WA govt to improve mining approvals system

The proposed changes would help “deliver more decisions, more quickly for the betterment of the State’s future.”
“We must create and maximise the opportunities presented by attracting investment in the State and ensuring that investment provides long-term benefits for all Western Australians,” said Barnett.
The new lead agency framework will work by determining specific government departments as the first point of call for a project.
The relevant department will then help the proponent through the approvals process throughout agencies. The lead agency will then provide the proponent with a custom level of service depending on the size, scale and significance of the project.
The Department of State Development is the lead agency on major resource projects like Gorgon and Oakajee.
The Department of Planning is the lead agency for projects like the sinking of the Northbridge rail line and the Perth waterfront development.
The Department of Regional Development and Lands is the lead agency for developments like Ord River Stage Two.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum is the lead agency for the emerging uranium sector.
“The new process will be streamlined without compromising environmental, heritage and planning approvals,” said Barnett.
The Government will also introduce on-line monitoring of approvals for any project, including smaller, less complex projects, to allow proponents to see where their application is at and enable government to monitor what stage proponents are at in their submission of relevant material for approval.
A Ministerial taskforce on Approvals, Development and Sustainability, established earlier this year, has also developed four Bills to streamline the approval system.
Simon Bennison of the Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC) said the industry was also pleased with the other recent Government decision to independently fund and staff the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“It’s very encouraging to see some decisive action as a result of the numerous reviews and working groups that are trying to streamline WA’s cumbersome approvals processes,” Bennison said.
“AMEC has worked hard to ensure the incoming Government to ensure everyone understood the difficulties faced by the sector, particularly smaller mining and exploration companies that don’t have their own legal teams and huge financial clout.
“Mr Barnett’s comments last night embracing our lead model concept and committing to on-line monitoring will make the approvals process more transparent and less cumbersome, facilitating better outcomes for everyone with an interest in an application.”
He said that while they were awaiting the “fine detail” the industry was pleased with the direction the Liberal-National Government is taking in this regard.