❓ Ms. Davies raises concerns about mining lease approval delays, potentially hindering investment. The Minister outlines reforms, digital transformation, and investments to streamline the process, citing halved processing times and addressing external factors.
AnsweredQoN 217Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING — LEASE APPROVALS
217. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to reports that 500 mining
leases are in the pipeline waiting for approval, with the average wait time
being 313 days, which, in some cases, has
blown out to 541 days. Given these shocking statistics, what is the minister
doing to ensure that this logjam does
not choke WA's pipeline of future investment in our very important
mining industry?
217. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to reports that 500 mining
leases are in the pipeline waiting for approval, with the average wait time
being 313 days, which, in some cases, has
blown out to 541 days. Given these shocking statistics, what is the minister
doing to ensure that this logjam does
not choke WA's pipeline of future investment in our very important
mining industry?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. Obviously, as all members know, the mining and resources sector is
incredibly important to Western Australia's economy, wealth and
prosperity as a state. The member for Central Wheatbelt would know that in
December, the Premier announced approval reforms right across government within
the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation and the mines department. A number of those reforms to
streamline the mining approval process are progressing, including the delivery
of eligible mining activity and mining development and closure proposal
frameworks. There will be more to say about that in coming months. Both sets of
reforms are on track to be delivered by the end of this year via the resources
online portal, which is the department's digital transformation
program.
The
Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety reports that the
average time for processing of mining lease applications has halved in the
period from the last quarter of 2022 to the last quarter of 2023. It is not
unusual for applications received to exceed applications finalised because it
is not possible to complete the assessment of a mining lease within the
quarter in which it is received. The assessment of mining leases also involves
some factors that are beyond DEMIRS' control, including native title
future act processes, referrals to other agencies and potential objections before the wardens. Further, some applications are
withdrawn or dismissed, so not all applications result in a grant of
title. The article states that mining proposal applications average 108 days,
with only 43 per cent finalised in the department's 30-day target. As I
said, as well as those factors beyond the department's control, other
factors include the current tight labour market. DEMIRS is actively recruiting
for those positions and has seconded senior officers
to help with approvals. As I said, the Cook government is investing $18 million
to overhaul the environmental approval system, including legislative changes
needed to slash green tape, reduce bottlenecks and provide additional resources
for key approvals. They will be supported by the new coordinator-general team
within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to facilitate
approvals across government projects of state significance. The Premier, Deputy
Premier, Minister for Environment and I drive the environment approvals reforms
steering group, which looks at these
issues on a regular basis with our public service to make sure we are making
progress on the announcements we have
made. I am aware, as I said, of that article but with our department, we are
doing everything we can to clear those backlogs because we know that this is an
important issue for the mining industry in Western Australia.
question. Obviously, as all members know, the mining and resources sector is
incredibly important to Western Australia's economy, wealth and
prosperity as a state. The member for Central Wheatbelt would know that in
December, the Premier announced approval reforms right across government within
the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation and the mines department. A number of those reforms to
streamline the mining approval process are progressing, including the delivery
of eligible mining activity and mining development and closure proposal
frameworks. There will be more to say about that in coming months. Both sets of
reforms are on track to be delivered by the end of this year via the resources
online portal, which is the department's digital transformation
program.
The
Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety reports that the
average time for processing of mining lease applications has halved in the
period from the last quarter of 2022 to the last quarter of 2023. It is not
unusual for applications received to exceed applications finalised because it
is not possible to complete the assessment of a mining lease within the
quarter in which it is received. The assessment of mining leases also involves
some factors that are beyond DEMIRS' control, including native title
future act processes, referrals to other agencies and potential objections before the wardens. Further, some applications are
withdrawn or dismissed, so not all applications result in a grant of
title. The article states that mining proposal applications average 108 days,
with only 43 per cent finalised in the department's 30-day target. As I
said, as well as those factors beyond the department's control, other
factors include the current tight labour market. DEMIRS is actively recruiting
for those positions and has seconded senior officers
to help with approvals. As I said, the Cook government is investing $18 million
to overhaul the environmental approval system, including legislative changes
needed to slash green tape, reduce bottlenecks and provide additional resources
for key approvals. They will be supported by the new coordinator-general team
within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to facilitate
approvals across government projects of state significance. The Premier, Deputy
Premier, Minister for Environment and I drive the environment approvals reforms
steering group, which looks at these
issues on a regular basis with our public service to make sure we are making
progress on the announcements we have
made. I am aware, as I said, of that article but with our department, we are
doing everything we can to clear those backlogs because we know that this is an
important issue for the mining industry in Western Australia.
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