4 Apr 2013

Bathurst to be wholly NZ based

8:18 am on 4 April 2013

Bathurst Resources is planning to to move its head office from Australia to New Zealand by the end of June.

The listed mining firm produced more than 200,000 tonnes of coal last year, and is in the final stages of getting consents for its controversial Escarpment mine on the Denniston Plateau, near Westport.

Bathurst managing director Hamish Bohannan says all its operations are in New Zealand, and it makes sense to shift its base from Perth in Western Australia.

"It fulfils our commitment to being a New Zealand company, not just a New Zealand operator."

Under the scheme of arrangement, shareholders will be offered equity, on a one-for-one basis, in a new New Zealand incorporated company, Bathurst Resources, which will become the new ultimate parent company of the group.

It says there'll be no impact on the assets and liabilities of the group on completion of the proposed restructure.

Last week, the Environment Court said it was inclined to grant consent for the controversial open cast mine on Denniston Plateau if certain conditions can be met.