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