If a change to existing operations or circumstances is proposed (within an existing mining tenement), the tenement holder will need to do a self-assessment of the proposed change to determine the correct regulatory pathway. The self-assessment, with supporting evidence, can then be provided to the department for confirmation of the regulatory pathway required to authorise the change.
The regulatory pathways available to assess and authorise a change include:
- Change in operations (PEPR)
- Review of mining program (PEPR or MOP)
Change in operations
An application for change in operations must be prepared in accordance with Division 7 of the Mining Act 1971, Part 12 of the Mining Regulations, and Terms of Reference 025: Change in operations application (PDF 398.4 KB)
Minerals Regulatory Guideline MG35 (PDF 243 KB) is available to assist with the change in operations process.
Change in operations applications must be made online using the following submission form and are subject to an application fee.
Review of mining program (PEPR or MOP)
A mining program may be reviewed at any time by the tenement holder, or must be reviewed at the direction of the Minister.
Mining programs must be prepared in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements. The following guidance is available for preparing a mining program.
For metallic or industrial minerals
- Terms of reference 005: Metallic and industrial mineral PEPRs (PDF 478.3 KB)
- Minerals Regulatory Guideline 2b: Preparation of a PEPR for metallic and industrial minerals (PDF 1.7 MB)
For extractive minerals
- On a mining lease (EML or ML) Terms of reference 002: Extractive mineral quarry PEPRs (PDF 440 KB)
- For guidance on preparing a mine operations plan on a private mine, or extractive PEPRs see Regulatory guidelines for extractive minerals
Transitional PEPRs
Specific requirements apply for preparing a PEPR in prescribed circumstances, where:
- a tenement has a PEPR that transitioned by virtue of regulation 114 of the repealed Mining Regulations 2011 or Section 70DA of the Mining Act 1971; or
- the tenement does not have a mining program under Part 10A of the Mining Act.
Terms of reference 022: Metallic and industrial mineral transitional PEPRs (PDF 491.6 KB)
Terms of reference 026: Extractive mineral quarry transitional PEPRs (PDF 448.4 KB)
PEPR and MOP submissions
PEPR and MOP submissions must be made online using the following submission form and are subject to an application fee.
Fees
When submitting a mining program (PEPR or MOP), fees apply.
