Apply for a Programme of Work

The Mining Act 1978 requires that a Programme of Work (PoW) is lodged in the prescribed manner and approved by the Minister (or a prescribed official) prior to an explorer or prospector conducting any ground disturbing activities with mechanised equipment.

Activities must be rehabilitated in line with tenement conditions. A rehabilitation report should then be submitted to DEMIRS.

When the prescribed tonnage limit will be exceeded by any proposed ground-disturbing activities on mining tenements, an application for excess tonnage must be submitted to the Title Compliance Branch via Mineral Titles Online (MTO) or lodged over the counter at a Mining Registrar’s office.  An application for excess tonnage is required where the prescribed tonnage limit of 500 tonnes on a Prospecting (P) licence or Special prospecting licence, and/or 1,000 tonnes for an Exploration (E) licence and Retention licence will be exceeded by proposed activities.

The PoW online system captures activities proposed by explorers and prospectors and provides site-specific feedback in the form of spatial data and additional questions.  The proponent can then adjust and optimise their application prior to submission, resulting in faster application and assessment timeframes.

Proposed activities can either be drawn directly in the system or uploaded using two spatial format options: ESRI shapefile or MapInfo TAB files.  If you choose to upload files, example files and a data dictionary are provided below and contain details on the conventions required for each activity type.

PoW applications can be lodged online via the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System (EARS Online) until 21 November 2024. From 26 November 2024, online submission of PoWs will be via the Resources Online Portal. For the period of 21 November to 26 November, proponents will be unable to submit PoW applications online. For additional support using the PoW Spatial system contact EARSManager@dmirs.wa.gov.au.

What is Spatial Lodgement? 
Programmes of Work Lodgment User Guide

The fastest method for submitting prospecting applications is via PoW Online.

Alternatively, a PoW-P Application Form PDF template can be downloaded below and submitted either over the counter at any DEMIRS office, or electronically using the Submit PoW-P button. Our guide provides more information on how to submit your applications and reports electronically.