Version No. 093
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990
No. 92 of 1990
Version incorporating amendments as at
1 December 2013
table of provisions
Section Page
xii
Section Page
Part 1—Introduction 1
1 Purpose 1
2 Objectives 1
2A Principles of sustainable development 3
3 Commencement 4
4 Definitions 4
5 Act to bind the Crown 19
5AA Application of this Act 20
5AB Application of this Act to Alcoa land 21
5A Interaction of this Act with native title legislation 21
6 Land not available for exploration, mining and searching 22
6AA Land not available for searching for stone 24
6A Extent of application of licences and authorities under this
Act to Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve (No.2) 24
7 Minister may exempt land from exploration or mining licence 25
7A Minister may declare meaning of graticular section 26
7B Ministers may declare low impact exploration activity 27
7C Ministerial Order declaring specified mines and quarries 27
8 Offence to search for minerals or do work without authority 27
8AA Offence to search for stone without owner's consent 28
8AB Offence to carry on extractive industry without authority 29
8A Aerial surveys permitted without licence 30
9 Ownership of minerals 30
10 Tailings 31
11 Transfer of property in minerals 31
11A Ownership of stone 31
12 Royalties 32
12A Royalties for lignite 33
Part 2—Exploration Licences, Mining,
Prospecting and Retention Licences 36
Division 1—General licence provisions 36
13 Exploration licences 36
14 Mining licences 37
14A Licence may be limited to stratum of land? 38
14B Prospecting licences 39
14BA Holder of prospecting licence must not dispose of tailings contrary to Minister's consent 39
14C Retention licences 40
Division 2—Licence process 41
14AB Application of this Division 41
15 Application for a licence 41
16 Applicant for licence—fit and proper person 50
16A Application for mining licence or retention licence where exploration licence or prospecting licence covers same land 52
17 Application not transferable 52
18 Notice of applications with the highest ranking 52
19 Withdrawal of application 53
23 Ranking of applications 54
24 Objections to licence 54
25 Grant or refusal of licence 55
25A Waiver of exploration licence holder's consent 59
26 Grant of licence 60
Division 3—Licence process for direct allocation of licences relating to coal 63
Subdivision 1—General 63
26AA Definition 63
26AB Licence applications under Division to be in respect of exempted land 64
Subdivision 2—Licences granted by the Minister 64
26AC Who may apply for a licence under this Subdivision? 64
26AD Application procedure 64
26AE Application of Act to licence application 65
26AF Grant or refusal of licence 65
26AG Revocation of exemption over licence land 66
26AH Minister must publish notice 66
26AI Application of Act to licence 67
Subdivision 3—Licences granted by the Governor in Council 67
26AJ Application procedure 67
26AK Notification and advertising requirements 68
26AL Application of Act to licence application 69
26AM Grant or refusal of licence 69
26AN Minister must publish reasons for refusal to grant licence 71
26AO Revocation of exemption over licence land 71
26AP Minister must publish notice 71
26AQ Application of Act to licence 72
Division 4—Requirements if agricultural land covered by mining licence or prospecting licence 73
26A Statement of economic significance if agricultural land
covered by licence 73
26B Excision of agricultural land from a licence 74
26C Notice of excision dispute 75
26D Resolution of excision disputes 75
26E Offence to divulge details of a statement of economic significance 76
Division 5—Tenders for licences 77
27 Tendering process 77
27A Acceptance of tender 77
27B Advertising and notice requirements 78
27C Consultation and notification requirements 78
27D Application of provisions to tenders 79
27E Minister may not accept any tenders 80
Division 6—Renewals of licences 80
29 Application for renewal of licence 80
31 Renewals of licences 81
32 Period of renewal 84
Division 7—Changes to licences 85
33 Transfer of licence 85
33A Transfer of land from one mining licence to another 86
33B Mining licence may be split and transferred 87
34 Variation of licence 88
35 Combined conditions 90
36 Amalgamation of licences 90
36A Expedited procedure for replacement of invalidated title 91
Division 8—Surrender and cancellation of licences 92
37 Surrender of licence 92
38 Cancellation of licence 92
38A Decrease in area under exploration licence 95
Division 9—Mine stability levy for Latrobe Valley 97
38AAA Definitions 97
38AAB Mine stability levy imposed 97
38AAC Who is liable for mine stability levy? 98
38AAD Amount of the mine stability levy 98
38AAE When and how is the mine stability levy to be paid? 98
Part 3—Work Under a Licence 99
38AA Boundaries of licence area must be surveyed and marked
out 99
38AB Authority to enter land 100
38AC Offence not to show authority 101
38AD Security 101
38AE Insurance 101
39 Work must be approved 102
39A Licensee's duty to consult with community 104
40 Work plan 104
41 Variation of work plan on application of a licensee 108
41AA Department Head may direct variation of work plan 110
41A Minister may require impact statement 111
41AB Reporting requirements for declared mines 112
41AC Chief Inspector to be notified of reportable events in
relation to exploration or mining 112
41AD Licensee to submit area plan work schedule 112
41AE Variation application must be made if mine is declared 113
42 Commencement of work under mining licence or prospecting licence 113
42A Planning permits not required for some work variations 119
43 Commencement of work under exploration licence or
retention licence 120
43A Effect of contraventions 125
43B Certain consents etc. not required in case of unrestricted
Crown land 125
44 Particular consents etc. required 126
45 Prohibition of work near dwellings and certain places and
sites 129
45A Certain exploration and mining work complies with
section45 134
46 Minister may authorise work near dwelling house 135
47 New consent or authorisation for certain work plan variations 135
47A Management of worksites 137
Part 4A—Advisory Panels 139
Division 1—Appointment of panels 139
54A Appointment of advisory panels 139
54B Composition of panel 139
54C Chairperson 139
54D Terms of reference 139
54E Terms and conditions of appointment 139
Division 2—Procedure of panels 140
54F Procedure of panel 140
54G Directions about hearings 140
54H Hearings to be in public 140
54I Procedure for hearing submissions 140
54J Adjournment of hearings 141
54K Panel may regulate its own proceedings 141
54L Panel may take into account any relevant matter 141
54M Report of panel 141
Part 5—Other Authorities 143
Division 1—Miner's rights 143
55 Miner's right 143
56 Who may grant a miner's right 144
57 Grant of miner's right 144
58 Obligations of holder 144
Division 2—Tourist fossicking authorities 145
59 Tourist fossicking authority 145
60 Application for tourist fossicking authority 146
61 Grant or refusal of tourist fossicking authority 146
62 Obligations of holder 146
Part 6—Mining Register 148
69 Functions of Department Head regarding mining register 148
70 Effect of registration 150
71 Creation etc. of interests in licences 151
72 Devolution of rights of licensee 152
73 Correction of register 152
74 Disclosure of registered information 153
75 Survey standards 154
76 Evidence 154
77 Offences 154
Part 6A—Extractive Industries—Work Authorities and Other Matters 155
Division 1—Consent to search for stone 155
77A Consent to search for stone on Crown land 155
77B Special requirements for particular land 156
77C Authority to search for stone for Department 158
77D Form and content of consent 158
77E Effect of consent under section 77A 159
77F Power of Minister to cancel or suspend consent etc. 159
Division 2—Work Plans and Extractive Industry Work Authorities 160
77G Work plan 160
77H Variation of work plan 161
77I Extractive industry work authorities 163
77J Conditions of extractive industry work authorities 164
77K Extractive industry work authority holder's duty to consult
with community 165
77KA Chief Inspector to be notified of reportable events in
relation to quarries 165
77KB Variation application must be made if quarry is declared 166
77L Period of extractive industry work authority 166
77M Variation of an extractive industry work authority 166
77N Transfer of an extractive industry work authority 167
77O Cancellation of an extractive industry work authority 168
77P Review of certain decisions about work plans and extractive industry authorities 169
Division 3—Managers 170
77Q Manager must be appointed 170
Division 4—Planning requirements 170
77R Powers to amend planning scheme 170
77S Land subject to a licence under Part 2 171
77T Environment Effects Statement 173
Part 6B—Statutory Endorsement of Work Plans 174
77TA Definitions 174
77TB Application of Part 174
77TC Giving of work plan or variation to approved work plan
for statutory endorsement 174
77TD Department Head may endorse work plan or variation to approved work plan 175
77TE Department Head must give work plan or variation application to referral authority 176
77TF Referral authority must consider work plan and variation
of approved work plan 176
77TG Interrelationship with the Planning and Environment Act1987 177
77TH Review by Tribunal 178
Part 7―Rehabilitation 180
77U Definitions 180
78 Licensee must rehabilitate land 180
78A Holder of extractive industry work authority must rehabilitate land 181
79 Rehabilitation plan 181
79A Rehabilitation liability assessment 182
80 Rehabilitation bond 182
81 Rehabilitation 184
81A Certification that land has been rehabilitated 185
82 Return of bond if rehabilitation satisfactory 185
83 Minister may carry out rehabilitation 186
84 Payment out of Consolidated Fund 187
Part 8—Compensation 188
Division 1―General 188
84A Application of this Division 188
85 What compensation is payable for 188
85A What compensation is payable for—Crown land 190
86 When a claim can be made 192
87 Compensation agreement 192
88 Determination of compensation disputes 193
88A Determination of disputes—Crown land 194
89 Limit on total amount of compensation 195
Division 2―Extractive industries search authorities 195
89AA Compensation―search authorities 195
89AB Measure of compensation payable under section89AA 197
Part 8A—Codes of Practice 198
89A Power to make Codes of Practice 198
89B Variation and revocation of Code of Practice 198
89C Advertising of draft Code of Practice, variation or revocation 199
89D Consideration of submissions 199
89E How is a Code of Practice made? 200
89F Availability of Code of Practice 200
89G Code of Practice 201
89H Use of Code of Practice in proceedings 201
Part 9—Inspectors 202
Division 1—Employment of inspectors 202
90 Employment of inspectors 202
91 Delegation by Chief Inspector 203
92 Identity cards 203
Division 2—Performance of functions or exercise of powers 204
93 Inspectors subject to Department Head's directions 204
Division 3—Powers relating to entry 204
94 Power to enter 204
95 General powers on entry 204
95A Power to require production of documentsetc. 205
95B Power to take samples 206
Division 4—Procedure relating to entry 207
95C Announcement on entry 207
95D Report to be given about entry 208
Division 5—Search warrants 209
95E Definition 209
95F Issue of search warrants 209
95G Announcement before entry on warrant 210
95H Copy of warrant to be given to occupier 211
Division 6—Limitation on entry powers 211
95I Places used for residential purposes 211
Division 7—Return and forfeiture of seized things 211
95J Return of seized things 211
95K Forfeiture of seized things 212
Division 8—Other powers 213
95L Power to require name and address 213
95M Power to give directions 214
Division 9—Other matters 214
95N Occupier must assist inspector 214
95O Other assistance in exercising powers 215
95P Inspector may take affidavits 215
95Q Inspector may copy documents 215
Division 10—Offences 216
95R Offences in relation to inspections 216
Division 11—Protection of privileges 217
95S Protection against self-incrimination 217
95T Legal professional privilege and client legal privilege not affected 217
Part 11—Mining Wardens 219
96 Appointment of mining wardens 219
97 Disputes 220
98 Matters referred to mining warden 220
99 Powers of mining warden 220
100 Conduct of hearing 221
101 Evidence not admissible in other proceedings 222
102 Validity of acts or decisions 222
103 Discontinuance of investigation 222
104 Costs 223
105 Annual report 223
Part 12—Enforcement 224
106 Infringements 224
110 Notice requiring authority holder to take action or stop work 225
110AA Injunction for non-compliance with notice 229
110AB Minister may take action required by injunction or order 230
110AC Offence to hinder or obstruct remedial action 231
110AD Immunity for remedial action 232
110AE Compensation for remedial action 232
110AF When claim for compensation for remedial action can be made 234
110AG Recovery of costs and compensation by Minister 234
110A Enforcement order 234
111 Offences by corporations 235
111A Default penalties 236
Part 13—Miscellaneous 237
112 Surveys and drilling operations 237
112A Minister may require review of economic viability of
mining of minerals to which a retention licence applies 238
113 Discovery of uranium or thorium to be reported 239
114 Abandoned plant becomes property of the Crown 240
115 Occupiers liability 241
116 Licensee must supply information 242
116A Holder of extractive industry work authority or consent to supply information 242
117 Obtaining licence or other authority dishonestly 243
118 Pecuniary interests 243
119 Secrecy 244
120 Delegation 245
120A Ministerial guidelines 245
121 Immunity 246
122 Service of documents 246
123 Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction 247
124 Regulations 247
Part 14—Repeals, Amendments, Savings and Transitionals 254
126 Repeal and amendment of Mines Act 1958 254
127 Validation of existing titles 254
128 Consequential amendments 254
129 Savings and transitionals 255
130 Saving and transitional provisions—2000amendments 255
131 Saving and transitional provisions—2001amendments 255
132 Transitional provision—2005 amendments 255