The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) Yearly Report for 2020-21 has been released.
The report provides an analysis of the performance and achievements of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's MRF, which is a pooled fund to which Western Australian mining operators contribute.
DMIRS Executive Director Resource and Environmental Compliance Karen Caple said during 2020-21 the MRF accumulated a total of $37.6 million in funds.
"The MRF has accumulated $11.2 million in net interest alone since the fund's inception in 2013, and as at 30 June 2021, the fund has reached nearly $219.5 million in total," she said.
"During the 2020-2021 FY, the MRF accumulated a total of $37.6 million in funds and the MRF Team compliance checked 2,111 tenements and found 368 tenements that required amendments, with these discrepancies recovering a further $172,491 in levies, in addition to refunds of $280,194."
The report includes a summary of the disturbance and rehabilitation data submitted by all respective tenement holders under the Mining Act 1978, plus an overview of the Fund's compliance program in addition to the rehabilitation works undertaken through the Abandoned Mines Program.
Money in the fund is available to rehabilitate abandoned mines across the State in circumstances where the tenement holder/operator has failed to meet rehabilitation obligations and efforts to recover funds from the holder/operator have been unsuccessful.
The MRF is a special purpose account under the Financial Management Act 2006 and funds must be spent in accordance with the purposes set out in the Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012.
Visit the MRF webpage to view the report.
