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According to local news service New Zealand Herald, the families of the victims have already commissioned and funded independent engineers and experts to find alternative recovery methods.
A review undertaken by the engineers estimated it would take three years to recover the remains.
Spokesman for the families Bernie Monk, whose son perished in the mine, said he was angered by the slow pace at which the recovery effort was taking place.
“We're still stuck where we were 15 months ago,” Monk was quoted as saying.
“We should've been down [the mine] six months ago.
"We're not putting up with it anymore and so we're going to be very aggressive towards recovery."
The newspaper reported that the families met with engineer Bruce McLean and lawyer Nicholas Davison QC to discuss possible recovery options, however Monk remained tight lipped on these.
“I can't say what those options are yet … later this week we will be in a position to reveal the options to certain interested parties and put the cards on the table,” Monk reportedly said.
Pike River Coal receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is overseeing the mine’s sale, has previously announced any sale of the mine would include the establishment of a trust to the buyer to help oversee efforts in a recovery of the bodies.
However Monk slammed the receivers for not taking more action on the recovery of the bodies.
“The whole situation of recovery of our guys is down to money, and Pike River and the receivers haven't got it,” Monk said.
“They've been relying on the sale of the mine, but we're not happy with that.
"Now that the sale is basically at a standstill, we don't want to hear in a year's time that is still the case."
PwC had originally anticipated the sale of the mine to be completed by early 2012 however this is now unlikely because potential buyers are concerned the mine could be hit with renewed safety regulations, consequently prolonging a sale.
In June last year New Zealand Mines Rescue staff entered the mine, installing a monitoring point and building a temporary seal.
Work to seal and ventilate the mine is continuing.
PwC hopes to reclaim the tunnel sometime this month.
