An Access Authority enables the holder of a permit, drilling reservation, lease, licence or Special Prospecting Authority to extend limited exploration activities (usually seismic lines tying into some other known control) in vacant acreage or acreage held under another party’s title.
Where access is required in the above circumstance, the permit holder needs to be given the opportunity to comment on, but not veto, the proposed access. To hasten the approval process, it is advisable to seek the consent of the other permit holder(s) and include this consent with the application.
Access Authorities are usually limited in time to the period in which the exploration activity can be completed.
More information on Access Authorities can be found in Western Australia’s Petroleum and Geothermal Explorer’s Guide
