The Western Australia Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) says the state government’s proposed low-impact mining authorisations trial is an encouraging sign of progress on project assessments.

The WA government has announced that mining Program of Work (PoW) applications will be assessed within a single business day as part of a trial authorisation process for low-impact mining activities.

An approved PoW is required before explorers or prospectors conduct any ground-disturbing activity with mechanised equipment.

Streamlined process

CME acting chief executive officer Adrienne LaBombard said the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DEMIRS) new Eligible Mining Activity (EMA) framework would streamline PoW approvals for mining activities that pose a low threat to the environment and occur outside sensitive areas.

She said reducing barriers to low-risk exploration activities was a sensible approach that would deliver improved outcomes for both the environment and business.

“A streamlined pathway for low-risk PoWs will help accelerate exploration activity, helping secure a future pipeline of resource projects critical to maintaining WA’s economic success,” Ms LaBombard said.

“This kind of approach should speed up project assessments across the board while also freeing up resources to focus on more complex applications, which will deliver better outcomes for both the environment and business.

Automatic authorisation

As part of the trial, tenement holders will receive automatic authorisation to undertake eligible mining activities after lodging a mandatory EMA notice.

The notice will be subject to a standard set of prescribed requirements.

Following the trial and the framework’s implementation, which DEMIRS expects to come into effect later this year, mining tenement holders will be able to receive authorisation for these activities by lodging an EMA notice with the department.

Support for tax incentives

Meanwhile, according to federal resources minister Madeleine King and treasurer Jim Chalmers, peak resources industry bodies have thrown their support behind the government’s production tax incentives.

The policy will provide a 10% production tax credit to incentivise critical minerals processing, with an estimated value of $7 billion over the next 11 years.

“A Future Made in Australia is all about seizing the vast economic and industrial opportunities on offer from the transformation to cleaner and cheaper energy,” Ms King said.

Inquiry backs incentives plan

The minister said an inquiry by the Senate Economics Legislation Committee into the government’s Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive found widespread support for the bill and recommended the Australian Parliament pass it.

She said the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies, the CME and the Minerals Council of Australia all gave evidence supporting the bill.

“Our production tax incentives will help unlock private sector investment to build a stronger, more diversified and more resilient economy powered by renewable energy that creates secure, well-paid jobs around the country.”