Location of State explosive reserves
The department manages five State Explosive Facilities (SEFs) in Western Australia. They are located in:
- Baldivis (relocating to the McLarty site in Myalup in 2017)
- Kalgoorlie
- Karratha
- Pippingarra (near Port Hedland)
- Cockatoo Island.
Our aim is to manage these facilities for the benefit of the State by optimising the use and commercial potential of the sites while maintaining high standards of safety and security.
Sites at SEFs are leased to private operators for the purposes of:
- explosives manufacture
- explosives storage
- security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN) manufacture and storage.
The Baldivis (McLarty) and Kalgoorlie reserves are provided with Departmental staff, sealed roads, power and security. Users must provide their own infrastructure at the other SEFs.
What is the process for obtaining a lease?
Initial inquiries about obtaining and SEF lease should be directed to Resources Safety’s Lease Processing Officer.
Before obtaining a lease at an SEF, the prospective lease holder must:
- determine, in consultation with the Department, that a suitable site is available at the desired reserve
- obtain the relevant licence for the activity to be carried out.
The table below lists the regulations and licence application information applicable to a manufacturing operation.
| Regulation | Licence or permit | Purpose of licence | Application forms |
| Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulation 2007 | |||
|
r. 27 |
Test permit for unauthorised explosive | Test explosives for authorisation |
|
|
r. 30 |
Authorisation of an explosive |
Pre-requisite for other licences | Application for authorisation of an explosive |
| r. 64 | Explosives manufacturing licence | Manufacture of explosives | Application for an explosives manufacture licence |
| r. 76 | Explosives storage licence | Storage of explosives | Application for an explosives storage licence |
| r. 57 | Explosives import/export licence | Import/export of explosives | Application for an explosives import/export licence |
| Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007 | |||
| r. 21 | Security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence | Manufacture of security sensitive ammonium nitrate | Application for a security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence |
| r. 22 | Security sensitive ammonium nitrate storage licence | Storage of security sensitive ammonium nitrate | Application for a security sensitive ammonium nitrate storage licence |
| r. 16 | Security sensitive ammonium nitrate import/export licence | Import/export of security sensitive ammonium nitrate | Application for a security sensitive ammonium nitrate import/export licence |
A security sensitive ammonium nitrate licence is not required if an explosive storage licence is held and the security sensitive ammonium nitrate is stored as if it was an explosive.
After a licence has been obtained, the Lease Processing Officer prepares the lease and Landgate forms for the prospective lessee. Once these are pre-approved by the Department of Lands, they can be signed by the lessee. When the Minister for Mines and Petroleum has signed the lease and the Department of Lands provides the final approval, the lease may be lodged at Landgate for registration.
SEF leases are standardised for all lease holders and, therefore, will not be amended.
The complex legal lease process typically takes about four months.
The following links may be of use to those requiring licences and permits associated with holding a lease.
What are the rules of a State explosive facility?
State explosive facilities are subject to specific sets of mandatory rules that address the following matters as well as applicable regulatory requirements:
- operational procedures
- manual handling
- security
- entry and exit
- visitors
- housekeeping
- managing spillages
- emergency procedures
- accidents and incident.
Preparing an application for a lease
The information provided in support of the relevant licence application satisfies most of the requirements for a lease application.
All structures to be constructed must meet relevant Local Government building code requirements.
Additional details to be supplied will be explained by the Lease Processing Officer.
Associated fees
Lease fees are paid annually in advance. Invoices are sent out in April and due by 1 May.
Go to Schedule of fees and charges for more information on licence fees.
Non-payment of fees will result in eviction and debt recovery proceedings.
What are the leaseholder’s obligations?
Leaseholders have a range of obligations as set out in the standard leases. These cover such issues as:
- rent
- improvements
- maintenance and repairs
- safety equipment
- behaviour at SEFs
- insurance
- signage
- processes for yielding up the site
- management of pollution
- lease termination.
A checklist is available from the Lease Processing Officer to help ensure all matters are attended to during the lifetime of the lease and upon termination.
Contact
Any enquiries about holding a lease at a State explosive facility should be directed the Lease Processing Officer.
Phone: (08) 9358 8184
Email: SEFLeases@dmirs.wa.gov.au