The Framework assists with planning of future New Zealand mine developments on the West Coast of the South Island and in Southland. It is anticipated that the Framework will provide information that is useful during consent processes, access negotiation, and assessment of environmental effects. The intended audience for the Framework includes regulators, mining companies, land holders, and the community and the objective is to prevent, minimise, or mitigate mining-related impacts on water quality and aquatic ecosystems downstream of mines. Specifically the Framework provides information on collection of water, rock, and biological information used to predict water quality prior to mining, monitor discharges from mines and identify mining related impacts. The framework also provides information on methods and pitfalls in the interpretation of this information. In addition, the Framework includes information on state of the art techniques for prevention of poor water quality in mine drainages, optimal strategies for management of mine waste or overburden and remediation of mine drainages if necessary.

Funding for this Framework came from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology. Research underpinning the Framework has been conducted by geologists, geochemists, biologists and environmental scientists at CRL Energy Ltd, Landcare Research, Canterbury University and Otago University. Governance and management of the research was completed by the West Coast Regional Council, Environment Southland, Department of Conservation, Solid Energy NZ, Oceana Gold, Francis Mining, the Coal Association of New Zealand, and Minerals West Coast.