The Department for Energy and Mining takes the lead role in managing and coordinating the state government assessment processes for all new and ongoing mining operations using a risk and outcomes-based approach. The department also requires stakeholder engagement to be undertaken by industry when preparing applications for mining tenements and PEPRs.

The department is committed to improving the transparency of its regulatory services. All lease grants, approved programs (PEPRs) and changes to mining operations are now listed on this website with approval letters and related documents available for download.

In 2022–23 the department changed the way mining assessments are reported, creating regularly updated dashboards to improve the transparency of volume and timeliness of information.

The following measures are reported on a quarterly basis.

Volume

  • Assessments received (by type)
  • Assessments in progress
  • Assessments completed (by outcome)

Timeliness

  • Percentage of mining lease application assessments that met the target timeframe of 6 months with the department
  • Percentage of programs (including PEPRs and MOPs) that met the target timeframe of 3 months with the department

In previous reports the average assessment time was used to measure against target timeframes. This did not show a true measure of timeliness as the average can be distorted by one long assessment.

Mining assessments received by type 2022–23

Mining assessments in progress at month end by mining assessment type

Mining assessments completed by outcome

Invalid submissions received

During 2022–23 the department received 7 submissions that did not meet the minimum requirements of the Mining Act 1971, Mining Regulations 2020, or respective Terms of Reference. The submissions were returned to applicants noting that they must meed the minimum requirements before an assessment will be undertaken.

Invalid mining submissions received 2022–23

Percentage of mine lease applications (MLA) and program assessments that met target timeframes

The graph above shows the percentage of assessments that met respective targets of 6 months with the department for MLA and 3 months with the department for PEPRs and shows the number of assessments that this percentage applies to. For example, during Q3 2022, 10 programs were approved and 5 were completed within 3 months.

In 2022–23, the department approved 55 programs, of which 15 (27%) were programs requiring an impact assessment. An impact assessment is required for all transitional PEPRs where the operation is transitioning from a historic approval to a contemporary PEPR. An impact assessment is required to set appropriate environmental outcomes and measurement criteria. Typically  these submissions take approximately 6 to 12 to assess, in line with what is required for a mining lease assessment.

Olympic Dam mine

The Olympic Dam mine operates under the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 and the Olympic Dam and Stuart Shelf Indenture (the Indenture), which is a schedule to the Act.

All Olympic Dam referrals and approvals are coordinated by the department, for all other state, Federal and other stakeholders.

Key Olympic Dam referrals and approvals - 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

  • Tailing Storage Facility 5 Buttress – July 2022
  • Calciner B upgrades - December 2022
  • Tails Leach Project - December 2022
  • Evaporation Pond 5B Dredging Trial - December 2022
  • 2022 Environmental Protection and Management Program (operational plan) – December 2022
  • Bismuth and antimony removal system modifications - March 2023
  • 2023 Environmental Protection and Management Program (operational plan) – 17 July 2023

Development application referrals, strategic referrals and other inquiries

One development application, two land division referrals, four strategic assessments (including one major project/Crown sponsored development and three Code Amendments) were referred by local government councils for assessment by the department during 2022 – 23.

Six queries regarding proposed developments and code amendments were also received.

Native vegetation clearance and reporting

A total of 439.4 hectares of native vegetation and 8 scattered trees across 12 mining operations were authorised to be cleared under delegation to the department from the Native Vegetation Council in 2022–23.

Significant environmental benefit associated with the authorised clearance will be made by money paid into the Native Vegetation Fund, managed by the Department for Environment and Water, to be disbursed as grants for on-ground conservation of biodiversity.