Purpose of a tenement document
Tenement documents are generated when the Minister decides to grant a mining tenement.
A tenement document (commonly called a 'lease' or a 'licence') informs the tenement holder and the general public of the specific details, terms and conditions of a particular tenement to ensure the acceptable conduct of mining operations.
In addition to the terms and conditions set out in the tenement document, the tenement holder must also comply with the Mining Act, Regulations, terms of reference and determinations, and other relevant State and Commonwealth legislation.
Format and content of tenement documents
A tenement document consists of:
1. The front page
The front page gives the reader basic tenement information. For example, it contains the tenement holder’s name and the tenement’s commencement and expiration dates, the authorised minerals and lease number.
2. The contents page
The contents page provides headings, paragraph and page numbers and describes the schedules.
3. The body of the tenement document
The body of the tenement document contains:
(a) Details of the grant
(b) The terms and conditions required by the Act to be specified in the tenement document
(c) Environmental outcomes
(d) Selected restatements of sections of the Act and Regulations
(e) Definitions
(f) Rules on interpretation
4. Schedules
There are usually four schedules, however the number may vary depending on the scale and type of application. In most instances, the four schedules are:
- First schedule – Additional terms
- Second schedule – Additional conditions
- Third schedule – Map and description of the tenement area
- Fourth schedule – Environmental outcomes, criteria and strategies required in the program for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR).
Mining operations and environment protection and rehabilitation
If a lease or licence is granted, mining operations must not commence until a program for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR) is approved. The PEPR is the 'operating approval' for a site, and describes how the terms, conditions and requirements of the lease or licence will be met. It also details how the tenement holder will demonstrate achievement of the environmental outcomes for the mine or quarry, including for final closure and completion after operations have ended.
The tenement document reflects this requirement in two significant ways. First, the body of the tenement document contains extensive statements about the PEPR and the process for its approval. Secondly, the types of environmental outcomes, criteria and strategies that the tenement holder will need to address in its PEPR are included in the tenement document, particularly in the fourth schedule.
If a lease or licence is granted, actual mining operations must not commence until the Minister has approved a PEPR for the operation.
The Minister will only approve the proposed PEPR if:
(a) It is consistent with the mining lease proposal or management plan
(b) It contains all of the information that the Act, Regulations or terms of reference say it must
(c) Additional conditions about the PEPR are complied with
(d) It addresses strategies and criteria to be adopted to measure environmental outcomes listed in the fourth schedule.
Additionally, prior to commencement of activities, authorised access is required to all land relevant to the operations described in the PEPR.
For more information
Mineral Tenements Program
+61 8 8463 3103
DEM.Tenements@sa.gov.au
