The Government of South Australia’s Department for Energy and Mining is seeking feedback on a range of potential improvements to the state’s Mining Act.
The consultation seeks to ensure the Mining Act is fit for purpose and helps meet the demand in a way that, as it noted, “supports industry, community and environmental expectations.”
The Mining Act 1971 and its regulations were last updated in 2020. Since that time, the department said it has received feedback from community and industry that identified further amendments that could make South Australia’s regulatory environment for exploration and mining even more consistent, competitive, accountable and productive.
An issues paper on the government’s YourSAy website outlines some options for amendments. They include:
- An extension of exploration tenure in certain situations;
- A reduction in the maximum size of exploration license areas to increase ground turnover and reduce land banking;
- New mechanisms for releasing exploration areas that encourage investment in the state and improve the chance of mineral discovery; and
- Better alignment of the Mining Act with other resources-focused legislation to ensure a “one window to government” approach to mining sector regulation is consistent across all sectors.
Consultation is now open, and the department is receiving input here. The deadline to submit is Wednesday, 28 May.