Western Australia

The state of Western Australia regulates mineral rights onshore and within 3 nautical miles of the shoreline.

The Department of Minerals and Petroleum is responsible for administering mineral tenure and other acts to do with mining and industrial safety. There is a basic provisions guideline here, with the mineral titles home page here. There are also some useful Information Pamphlets here.

The schedule of fees and charges is here located on this page.

Relevant Legislation

• Mining Act 1978
• Mining Regulations 1981
• Link to Mining Amendment Bill 2012 and Explanatory Memorandum PDF
• Mining Act 1978 (WA) Forms
• Mineral Royalties
• WA Interpretation Act 1984

Mineral Tenure Types

• Exploration Licence (WA)
• Prospecting License (including special prospecting license for gold)
• Mining Lease
• Miscellaneous License
• General Purpose License
• Retention License

Actions (WA)

• Affidavit

• Annual Check-up
• General Purpose Licence12 monthsAnnual Check-upMiscellaneous Licence12 monthsAnnual Check-upProspecting Licence12 monthsConstruction Details
• Miscellaneous Licence0 monthsCompulsory Surrender
• Exploration CompulsoryLicence Surrender
• (Post 2006)60 monthsExemption from Dropoff
• Exploration Licence (Pre 2006)36 monthsExemption
• General Purpose Licence36 monthsExemption from Expenditure
• Exploration Licence12 monthsExemption from ExpenditureMining Lease12 monthsExpenditure Report
• Exploration Licence12 monthsExpenditure ReportMining Lease12 monthsExpenditure ReportProspecting Licence12 monthsFinal Expenditure ReportExploration Licence0 monthsExpiry
• Exploration Licence60 monthsExpiryGeneral Purpose Licence ExpiryMining Lease252 monthsExpiryMiscellaneous Licence252 monthsExpiry - 5 YearsMiscellaneous Licence - Search for Ground Water252 monthsExpiry - 21 YearsMiscellaneous Licence - Search for Ground Water252 monthsExpiryProspecting Licence48 monthsExpiryMineral Lease ExpiryPipeline252 monthsExpiryRetention Licence60 monthsExtension of Term
• Exploration Licence (Pre 2006) Extension of TermExploration Licence (Post 2006) Extension of TermMining Lease252 monthsExtension of TermProspecting Licence48 monthsExtension of TermGeneral Purpose Licence252 monthsExtension of TermMiscellaneous Licence60 monthsExtension of TermMiscellaneous Licence - Search for Ground Water60 monthsMineral Exploration Report - Single
• Prospecting Licence12 monthsNotice to Land Owner/Occupier
• Exploration Licence0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierGeneral Purpose Licence0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierMining Lease0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierMiscellaneous Licence0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierMiscellaneous Licence - Search for Ground Water0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierProspecting Licence0 monthsNotice to Land Owner/OccupierRetention Licence0 monthsPartial Surrender (3rd Year)
• Exploration Licence (Pre 2006)36 monthsRates
• Exploration Licence12 monthsRatesGeneral Purpose Licence12 monthsRatesMining Lease12 monthsRatesMiscellaneous Licence12 monthsRatesProspecting Licence12 monthsRatesRetention Licence12 monthsRenewal
• General Purpose Licence252 monthsRenewalMining Lease252 monthsRenewalMiscellaneous Licence60 monthsRenewalMiscellaneous Licence252 monthsRent
• Exploration Licence12 monthsRentGeneral Purpose Licence12 monthsRentMining Lease12 monthsRentMiscellaneous Licence12 monthsRentMiscellaneous Licence - Search for Ground Water12 monthsRentProspecting Licence12 monthsRentMineral Lease12 monthsRentPipeline12 monthsRentPastoral Station12 monthsRentRetention Licence12 monthsSecurity
• Prospecting Licence0 monthsStatutory Declaration