❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding the impact of the "Plan for our Parks" on existing mining and petroleum tenements. The Minister provides information on tenement holder notification, potential implications, and consultation processes.
AnsweredQoN 5230Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the governments "Plan for our Parks" which will create five million hectares of new national parks, marine parks and other conservation reserves over the next five years, and ask: (a) For each of the proposed new parks and conservation reserves planned for under the "Plan for our Parks", can the Minister provide a list of all existing mining and petroleum tenements affected and the name of the tenement holder; (b) Has the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) written to all tenement holders affected by the "Plan for our Parks" to advise them that the proposed change to their land tenure has implications under section 24 of the Mining Act 1978 ; (c) Can the Minister advise what the implications under section 24 of the Mining Act 1978 will be for tenement holders holding tenements in the proposed new parks and reserves and will the Minister use his powers to ensure there are no financial implications for any tenement holders; (d) Can the Minister advise if DMIRS is assessing the impact that the proposed new parks and reserves may have on access to potential or defined mineral resources and mining related infrastructure on existing tenements; (e) Have tenement holders affected by the proposed new parks and reserves been offered the opportunity to provide comments to DMIRS, and if so, how much notice was given and how many responded; (f) Will the Minister recommend boundary alterations if DMIRS identify areas of potential mineral and petroleum resources within the proposed new parks and reserves; (g) Will the consultation with the general public for the creation of the new parks and reserves include the information on the mineral and petroleum potential assessed by DMIRS and the potential economic consequences; and (h) If the answer to (g) is no, will DMIRS provide this information to Parliament when it is completed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 August 2019
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Industrial Relations
Response time
6 days
(a) Yes - see tabled paper no. for a complete list of potentially affected mining tenements and petroleum titles and the holders of these tenements and titles.
(b) Yes. DMIRS has contacted relevant holders of all tenements and titles (live and pending) under the Mining Act 1978 and Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 as listed on [tabled paper no. ].
Tenement and title holders were informed that the proposed changes had implications under Section 24 of the Mining Act 1978 or, in the case of petroleum titles, the comparable Section 15A of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967.
(c) Assuming that the tenement does lie within a final conservation park boundary, the implications will vary according to final park type. Mining in an unclassified conservation park will require the recommendation of the management body and the Minister for Environment. Mining in a national park will require the concurrence of the Minister for Environment. The grant of a mining lease or general purpose lease within a national park will require the approval of both Houses of Parliament. Any financial implications for existing tenement holders will be minimised by boundary design, park type and noting that in many areas, plans and commitments for parks have been known for many years.
(d) Yes
(e) Yes. Potentially affected mining tenement and petroleum title holders (as per [tabled paper no. ]) were first notified by Government in early May 2019. DMIRS followed up with letters sent during May and June to all potentially affected holders; providing the specific tenements or titles involved, the proposed park type, and with the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal to DMIRS. The response time for submissions to DMIRS was three weeks from the date of the letter. DMIRS has granted extensions of time upon request. To 22 July 2019, a total of 52 of the 98 tenement/title holders have responded.
(f) The information from DMIRS will be taken into account alongside other information across Government, such as biodiversity and cultural values; and with Government policy objectives and election commitments also in mind, in determining final park boundaries and type.
(g) No
(h) No. This information is likely to include material that may be commercially sensitive, and provided by companies voluntarily to the Government.
(b) Yes. DMIRS has contacted relevant holders of all tenements and titles (live and pending) under the Mining Act 1978 and Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 as listed on [tabled paper no. ].
Tenement and title holders were informed that the proposed changes had implications under Section 24 of the Mining Act 1978 or, in the case of petroleum titles, the comparable Section 15A of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967.
(c) Assuming that the tenement does lie within a final conservation park boundary, the implications will vary according to final park type. Mining in an unclassified conservation park will require the recommendation of the management body and the Minister for Environment. Mining in a national park will require the concurrence of the Minister for Environment. The grant of a mining lease or general purpose lease within a national park will require the approval of both Houses of Parliament. Any financial implications for existing tenement holders will be minimised by boundary design, park type and noting that in many areas, plans and commitments for parks have been known for many years.
(d) Yes
(e) Yes. Potentially affected mining tenement and petroleum title holders (as per [tabled paper no. ]) were first notified by Government in early May 2019. DMIRS followed up with letters sent during May and June to all potentially affected holders; providing the specific tenements or titles involved, the proposed park type, and with the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal to DMIRS. The response time for submissions to DMIRS was three weeks from the date of the letter. DMIRS has granted extensions of time upon request. To 22 July 2019, a total of 52 of the 98 tenement/title holders have responded.
(f) The information from DMIRS will be taken into account alongside other information across Government, such as biodiversity and cultural values; and with Government policy objectives and election commitments also in mind, in determining final park boundaries and type.
(g) No
(h) No. This information is likely to include material that may be commercially sensitive, and provided by companies voluntarily to the Government.
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