Project Updates
Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Implementation
Since the last RER eNews, three Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Implementation Plan actions have been completed and a further two position papers have been released.
The completed actions include Action 4 ‘Early and ongoing engagement with local communities’, Action 8 ‘Public Health Impact’ and Action 9 ‘Chemicals register’.
The two position papers released are for Action 13 ‘Penalties’ and Action 19 ‘Financial Assurances’, both of which propose amendments to the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA). Further detail regarding the specific legislative amendments will be provided in the Bill planned for release for public comment in the first half of 2021.
Updates on individual Implementation Actions are available at https://www.hydraulicfracturing.wa.gov.au/updates/.
Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement
Conclusive registration of the Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement took effect on 26 October 2020. The agreement supports self-determination for Aboriginal people in the Mid West. More details at www.wa.gov.au.
Transforming to the new GDA2020
Work is currently underway nationally to introduce the Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020) to adjust for tectonic plate movements. DMIRS staff from many business areas are involved in our transition project. Learn more at www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/GDA2020.
Statements of Compliance
DMIRS no longer requires Affidavits of Compliance to be lodged for mining tenement applications. The department may only require an Affidavit of Compliance if there has been an objection relating to the application. If no objection has been lodged, applicants/agents are only required to lodge a Statement of Compliance.
More details and Statement of Compliance templates are available on our website.
Mining Environmental Approvals
DMIRS and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) continue to progress initiatives under the Streamline WA program to increase transparency and reduce duplication on mining environmental approvals through the Mining Environmental Approvals Project Board.
In November Streamline WA, hosted a Regulatory Reform and Economic Recovery Forum at DMIRS to build common understanding across government and its stakeholders. In addition, workshops were also held to inform industry of improvements to annual environmental reporting.
Streamlining Bill 2020
DMIRS continues to work through amendments to the Mining Act 1978 (WA) for environmental approvals to include a low-impact notification stream and a single approvals instrument for mining operations. The components of the Streamlining Bill are still being drafted and are yet to be made available for consultation.
Digital DMIRS
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Annual Rent Notices
In keeping with DMIRS’ progression towards digital services, tenement holders with Designated Tenement Contact (DTC) email addresses recorded in the department’s database will now have annual, overdue and final rent notices emailed to them automatically instead of normal post.
DMIRS began emailing these notices in October 2020 and there is no option to deactivate the mode of delivery for these notices.
The legislation currently does not provide for other notices, such as those for forfeiture or penalties, to be issued via DTC email, however legislative changes could allow this to happen in future.
This highlights the importance of keeping contact details up-to-date. To record or update contact details, you can do so using DMIRS Mineral Titles Online (MTO) System, by post or in person at a mining registrar’s office on a Form 30 Application to Amend, together with a completed supporting Statutory Declaration.
Online lodgement of survey documents and survey data
As part of a move towards DMIRS digital delivery and online lodgement strategy, all surveyors on the ‘List of Approved Surveyors’ are expected to put in place work practices that will enable online lodgement by 1 July 2021.
Quarterly Reporting Snapshots
Approvals Reporting
DMIRS uses timeline targets to monitor and report on the department’s approval performance. Check out the September Quarter 3 2020 Approvals report.
Warden’s Court Decisions
In Q3, one decision was delivered in the Warden’s Court. All decisions are published on our website.
Compliance Activities - Minerals & Petroleum
The RER Group’s Resource and Environmental Compliance Division uses an integrated approach to compliance planning and monitoring activities across its branches. More information on the Q3 2020 desktop audits and on-site inspections is available online.
Enforcement Actions - Minerals
DMIRS uses enforcement actions to influence compliance within the mining sector. Details of the enforcement actions in Q3 are available online.
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