Mining Proposals (WA)

Under s74(1)(ca) of the Mining Act 1978 requires an application for a mining lease must be accompanied by either a mining proposal (or a statement and mineralisation report)

• A mining proposal must be submitted on EARS (Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System) online.
• The mining proposal will be assessed by an environmental officer of DMIRS, who will make recommendations to the Mineral Titles Branch.

• Statutory Guidelines for Mining Proposals took effect on the 3 March 2020 and supersedes previous guidelines from 2016 and 2006.
• There are 2 parts to the Guidelines:
• Part 1 - for all mining proposals then refer to Mining Proposal Guidance – How to prepare in accordance with Part 1 of the Statutory Guidelines for Mining Proposals
• Part 2 - for small miners with a pro forma enclosed at Appendix 3 (Mining Proposal for Small Mining Operations)
• DMIRS will refer a Mining Proposal to the EPA for the reasons outlined in the MOU between DMIRS and EPA

This is where a Mining Proposal is of significant proposal under the Part IV of the EP Act or for the following criteria (offshore criteria are not shown):

• Environmentally Sensitive Areas including:
• Within 500m of World Heritage Property
• Within 500m of a Bush Forever site
• Within 500m of a Threatened Ecological Community
• Within 500m of defined wetlands (including Ramsar wetlands, ANCA wetlands, Conservation category wetlands)
• Area containing rare flora Area covered by an Environmental Protection Policy.
• Within 500m of a declared/proposed State Conservation Estate, including National Park, Nature Reserve, Conservation Park, or State Forest and Timber Reserves.
• Within a Public Drinking Water Source Area.
• Within 2 kilometres of a declared occupied town site (for Mining Proposals and petroleum Environment Plans only).
• Hydraulic fracturing exploration and development activities.
• Activities within the Strategic Assessment for the Perth Peel Region and potentially in conflict with the outcomes of the Strategic Assessment.
• Area previously or currently subject to formal assessment by the EPA.

Other Government Departments that may need consulting or approval are as follows:

• Department of Water and Environment Regulation (administers the works approvals and licences (or registration) required for the construction and operation of all prescribed premises under Part V of the EP Act and the Contaminated Sites Act 2003),
• Department of Parks and Wildlife (administering the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984)
• Department of Water (now part of the DWERs (administering the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914, Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909, Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947, Waterways Conservation Act 1976, Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984 and Water Services Act 2012).
• The Clth Government under Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (operates independent of the State)
• Department of State Development (administers State Agreements)

Baseline environmental data is required for a Mining Proposal, it usually requires study through at least one spring time period. Therefore, it is imperative to commence studies as early as possible. Refer to:

• EPA Technical Guidance – Sampling of Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna (2016).
• EPA Technical Guidance – Subterranean Fauna Survey (2016).
• EPA Technical Guidance – Sampling methods for Subterranean Fauna Survey (2016).