- Fast-tracked approvals for activities involving minimal disturbance
- Eligible Mining Activity Regulations now open for public consultation
- Move highlights Cook Government's commitment to streamline regulatory approvals
The Cook Government's ongoing plan to streamline regulatory approvals for the resources sector has reached another milestone.
The Fast-Tracking Mining Approvals Strategy introduced in 2022 aims to transform the regulation of resource projects under the Mining Act 1978 (Mining Act)through multiple work streams.
The latest component of the Strategy involving the Eligible Mining Activity (EMA) Regulations has been released by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for stakeholder consultation.
The EMA framework, established under the Mining Amendment Act 2022, will increase the efficiency of applications by introducing a new form of authorisation for certain activities that involve minimal disturbance.
Under the EMA framework, tenement holders will be able to lodge a notification with DEMIRS that they will be undertaking certain eligible activities. Eligible activities can be undertaken following the successful lodgement of an EMA Notice, resulting in significantly shorter approval timeframes for these activities.
The intent is that eligible activities will be those that pose a low risk to the environment and do not occur in sensitive environments.
Consultation will be open for an eight-week period and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the process by providing feedback via the following link: https://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/content/open-consultations
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"The Fast-Tracking Mining Approvals Strategy is a key component of the Western Australian Government's election commitment to streamline project approvals.
"The strategy is being implemented in multiple work streams and programs in order to reduce assessment timeframes and aims to drive the State's key economic activities.
"The EMA framework will shorten approval timeframes for certain low-impact activities without compromising environmental outcomes and I look forward to progressing with its implementation."
