• Give applicants an opportunity to engage early with government and stakeholders to get a thorough understanding of expectations of the scope of work appropriate to undertake the project’s impact assessment.
• Outline the most appropriate assessment pathway for projects, based on the project’s scale and complexity.
• Ensure that the level of assessment is proportionate to the project’s potential environmental impacts, considering project type, scale, duration and the sensitivity of the location of mining and ancillary operations.
• Ensure the impact assessment and lease application focuses on the key matters for decision-making.
• Provide an assessment process that promotes efficiencies, transparency and clarity on approval pathways and technical assessments.
• Facilitate stronger alignment and integration of South Australian and Australian Government objectives to further streamline requirements and reduce regulatory burden for the proponent.

Scoping generally has the most benefit for projects that anticipate complex environmental or social impacts and sensitivities. However, as a tool for more thoroughly understanding the project’s impacts before doing in-depth, costly studies, scoping is recommended for projects that don’t meet the defined impact pathway.

The scoping process can be used in preparation for a:

• Mining lease application
• Miscellaneous purposes licence application
• Change in operations application where additional impact assessment studies are required

As outlined in Part 10 of the Mining Regulations 2020, scoping is not a mandatory requirement for mining or quarrying projects.

Scoping is intended to be voluntary for the majority of projects. Where a project is likely to have complex environmental or social interactions, including potential for an accredited assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), the Minister may determine scoping is required.

Scoping is strongly encouraged where the project is likely to include:

• Complex or unclear environmental impacts
• Complex socio-cultural matters
• High environmental sensitivities
• The application of new technologies or approaches
• The application of multiple laws

Scoping is already undertaken informally as part of the existing pre-lodgement process. Formalising the process is intended to create a clear and repeatable structure for the pre-lodgement process.

The benefit of this approach is that scoping will provide a documented process that:

• provides regulatory certainty and efficiency
• provides an opportunity for the proponent to define the key potential impacts, and the nature and extent of information that will be required to make an informed decision about the project at the mining lease application stage
• ensures formal endorsement, consistency and continuity, even in the event of departmental or company personnel changes.

While all projects are subject to the same comprehensive whole of government assessment, the scale and impacts of mining projects can vary significantly. The level of assessment required for each individual project needs to be proportionate to the scale and likely impacts of the project. Scoping will enable the applicant and government to identify the likely significant environmental, technical and social impacts that are relevant to the particular project proposal and the level of information required to prepare a proposal which supports regulatory decision-making.

This is intended to create a focused and efficient approach to the development of a proposal proportionate to the impacts posed by the specific project. This will determine the baseline studies, analyses and any modellings required, outline the approaches for impact assessment, identify potential mitigation and management measures, and assist in the development of programs for meaningful stakeholder engagement and review.

1. Scoping is Project-Specific

Scoping focuses on one specific mining proposal, identifying the environmental, social, and cultural risks related to that site. It helps shape what should be studied in detail in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for that project.

• Tailored to the site
• Informs approvals and licensing
• Required for project development
• Led by project proponents

2. RVA is Broader and Less Actionable for Specific Projects

A regional vulnerability assessment looks at cumulative risks and sensitivities across a wider area—like a whole region, catchment, or landscape. It’s valuable for policy, planning, and strategic land-use decisions, but it’s not detailed enough to guide a specific project’s design or meet regulatory requirements on its own.

• Not tied to a specific development
• Less detailed on individual project impacts
• Often led by government or regional bodies

3. Scoping Is Recognised in the Approval Process

Scoping is an integrated part of South Australia's mining regulatory system. While RVAs can help inform that process, scoping is what regulators expect when a company is preparing an EIA or applying for a mining lease.

When it comes to a specific project, scoping is generally better for the community—because it directly gives them a voice and influence over the project that may impact them.

Here’s why:

1. It Focuses on the Actual Project That Affects Them

Scoping looks closely at what exactly a company plans to do in their area—how it might impact water, land, air, or social values—so it's far more relevant and actionable for locals.

2. It Involves Early Community Input

It encourages early community consultation, meaning residents can raise concerns and shape what the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should study before decisions are locked in.

3. It Feeds into Legal Approvals

Scoping influences legally binding conditions attached to a project. Community concerns raised at this stage can directly result in stronger protections and requirements for the mining company.

4. It Builds Transparency and Trust

Scoping includes reports and processes that are public and reviewed by regulators, which keeps the company accountable and gives the community visibility into what’s planned.

Bottom Line for Communities:

If a community is concerned about a specific project near their town or farmland, scoping is the stronger tool for their protection and involvement.

RVAs are valuable too—but they’re not designed to protect communities from specific projects. Instead, they:

• Look at cumulative risks across a broader region
• Help with policy and planning, not approvals
• May not trigger any immediate action or change for a single community

A gazetted Terms of Reference for lease applications is intended to remain in place for projects that do not follow an individual scoping process.

For projects undertaking scoping, the final endorsed scoping report is intended to act as the project-specific terms of reference. In these cases, the scoping report will set out the required studies, modelling, impact assessment methods, mitigation and management methods, and engagement approach.

Yes, co-regulators will be involved in the scoping process. The relevant agency will be present at the kick-off meeting if the preliminary impact assessment identifies a potential impact within their area of expertise.

DEM is developing and updating MOUs with our co-regulators to ensure that working arrangements are relevant and incorporate the scoping process.

As part of the preliminary impact assessment, proponents will develop a description of the environment based on the outcomes of a comprehensive desk-top review. In most instances (although not all), it will be possible to gather enough desk-top data to determine whether a project is likely to require referral under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

At the preliminary impact assessment meeting, there will be consideration of whether the data gathered to inform the description of the environment is robust enough to inform the preliminary identification of potential impacts – including whether there has been sufficient consideration of whether the project might trigger EPBC Act requirements.

Engaging with stakeholders early in the process provides valuable information for applicants to better understand the potential impacts of their project and assist in determining the significance of these impacts. It also informs the ongoing refinement of the project’s engagement plan and demonstration of how feedback received during engagement has been considered in the project’s development.

While there will not be an opportunity for stakeholders to provide comment on the scoping report, the final scoping report will be published, providing stakeholders the opportunity to understand the project being proposed and identifying the matters and approach for engagement with the applicant during the development of the proposal.

The final scoping report will be published with a caveat that approaches outlined in the report may vary as new information comes to light during detailed impact assessment.

No, the timeframe associated with mineral claims cannot be varied. However, scoping can commence before a mineral claim is pegged or if the applicant does not hold the underlying exploration licence, DEM will work with the applicant to provide an efficient mechanism to identify the information required to develop a high-quality proposal which meets regulatory requirements.