Fact sheet now available on DMP website.
| Date: | Tuesday, 03 February 2015 |
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Assessment fees for Programme of Work and Mining Proposal applications will be implemented from 1 July.
As part of a reform program the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has been implementing for a number of years, from 1 July 2015 assessment fees will be introduced for Programme of Work and Mining Proposal applications.
Exemptions will apply to exploration and prospecting work deemed “low impact”.
DMP Executive Director Environment Dr Phil Gorey said operations will be deemed “low impact” if they disturb less than a quarter of a hectare and are not on reserve land.
The assessment fees will help ensure the department is appropriately funded to deliver the functions and expectations of government and the community.
“Industry-based fees have been part of the necessary consideration of the environmental reform agenda,” Dr Gorey said.
“Effective environmental regulation of the mining industry means that unacceptable impacts upon the environment are minimised, community confidence in the regulation of the industry is maintained, and the industry retains its social licence to operate,” Dr Gorey said.
“A number of reforms have already been introduced that cut red tape and reduce the regulatory burden on industry and DMP is continuing to explore further ways to reduce regulatory burden.
“Current environmental reforms being delivered by DMP are calculated to save industry $32 million each year; however the efforts of the department in regulating the mining industry do come at a cost.”
As well as pursuing efficiencies in its regulation and identifying potential funding options, one of the outcomes of the reform process is that DMP is now proceeding with the introduction of assessment fees for mining proposals and programme of work applications.
The assessment fees proposed to take effect from 1 July 2015 are $6950 for mining proposals and $590 for programmes of work.
“These fees are being introduced following consultation with industry stakeholders,” Dr Gorey said.
“To ensure continued high levels of environmental regulation it is important the regulator maintains appropriate levels of funding, however the fees should not have a substantial impact on industry.”
DMP has published a fact sheet on the assessment fees outlining the reasons they’re being introduced, the consultation undertaken, and how they will be applied.
The fact sheet can be accessed from the DMP website.
