WorkSafe

• WA mineral exploration activity on the rise
• DMIRS continues to assess PoW applications within halved timeframe

Mineral exploration activity in Western Australia is on the rise after the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety recorded a five-year high in the number of Programme of Work (PoW) applications.

The department’s figures for July and August showed a record 63 per cent increase on the monthly average (195) for applications and processing in the last five years.

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for potential sand extraction from within the Myalup juvenile pine plantation between Mandurah and Bunbury.

DMIRS’ Resources Tenure Acting Executive Director Tony Bullen said the proposed sand pits will only go ahead if suitable applicants are identified through the EOI process.

As a result of recent amendments to the Mining Regulations 1981, parties appearing before the Warden in the early stages of Part IV Proceedings can be represented by either a lawyer or an agent without seeking special leave.

Part IV Proceedings relate to applications or objections under Part IV of the Mining Act 1978, including applications for mining tenements, forfeiture, exemption from expenditure conditions and restoration.

The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) intends to reprioritise its 2020–21 work program because of the impact of current travel and operational restrictions. By using GSWA’s extensive, pre-competitive geoscience datasets and outstanding rock and paleontology collection, the organisation will aid economic recovery and stimulate the exploration industry. GSWA will deliver new interpretive datasets across all areas of geoscience, in key regions of the State where work is currently underway. This will accelerate understanding of the region's geology and mineral prospectivity.

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is seeking public comment on a discussion paper with recommended changes to emerging potash and salt minerals in brine (MIB) operations in Western Australia under the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) legislative and regulatory framework.

After more than 150 years of mining, Western Australia has thousands of abandoned mine features scattered throughout the State.

The Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is reminding visitors and locals to ‘Stay Out, Stay Safe and Report’ any abandoned mine features they come across while exploring Western Australia.

Abandoned mine features are the result of historic mining and exploration activities, and include everything from deep shafts to waste landforms, open pits and abandoned equipment.

As part of financial relief measures being introduced by the State Government, DMIRS will consider COVID-19 related impacts when exploration tenement holders apply for expenditure exemptions under section 102 of the Mining Act 1978.

This is consistent with Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston’s Minister’s Ministerial Opinion published on 27 March 2020.

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has stopped issuing Miner’s Rights and is no longer assessing applications for Section 40E Permits from 1 April 2020. The suspension is in response to the State Government’s introduction on 31 March 2020 of a prohibition on regional travel made under the declared State of Emergency to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

A freight haulage company and its sole director have been fined a total of $400,000 (and ordered to pay $6500 in costs) over an incident in which a worker suffered serious injuries.

RGR Road Haulage Pty Ltd and director Richard Garrick Rowland pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and were fined in the Northam Magistrates Court last week.

RGR was fined $355,000 while Mr Rowland was fined $45,000.