- Fast-tracked
approvals for activities involving minimal disturbance
- Eligible
Mining Activity Regulations now open for public consultation
- Move
highlights Cook Government's commitment to streamline regulatory approvals
The Cook Government's
ongoing plan to streamline regulatory approvals for the resources sector has
reached another milestone.
The Fast-Tracking
Mining Approvals Strategy introduced in 2022 aims to transform the regulation
of resource projects under the Mining Act 1978 (Mining
Act)through multiple work streams.
The latest component of
the Strategy involving the Eligible Mining Activity (EMA) Regulations has been
released by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for
stakeholder consultation.
The EMA framework,
established under the Mining Amendment Act 2022, will increase the
efficiency of applications by introducing a new form of authorisation for
certain activities that involve minimal disturbance.
Under the EMA
framework, tenement holders will be able to lodge a notification with DEMIRS that
they will be undertaking certain eligible activities. Eligible activities can
be undertaken following the successful lodgement of an EMA Notice, resulting in
significantly shorter approval timeframes for these activities.
The intent is that
eligible activities will be those that pose a low risk to the environment and
do not occur in sensitive environments.
Consultation will be open for an eight-week period and all stakeholders
are encouraged to participate in the process by providing feedback via the
following link: https://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/content/open-consultations
Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"The Fast-Tracking Mining Approvals Strategy is a key component of the
Western Australian Government's election commitment to streamline project
approvals.
"The strategy is being implemented in multiple work streams and programs
in order to reduce assessment timeframes and aims to drive the State's key
economic activities.
"The EMA framework will shorten approval timeframes for certain
low-impact activities without compromising environmental outcomes and I look
forward to progressing with its implementation."
