Amec welcomes WA trial to streamline approvals process
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) has welcomed the Western Australian government’s announcement of a trial aimed at streamlining the approvals process for mining projects.
The trial of eligible mining activities (EMA), announced by Western Australian Mines Minister David Michael, is designed to facilitate the approval of low-risk activities in non-environmentally sensitive areas.
“This is a common sense approach, a long time in the making, that will streamline the approvals process,” said Amec acting CEO Neil van Drunen.
“This trial will help realise more efficiencies for the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS). It will remove a significant amount of work the Department currently undertakes and allow them to focus time and effort on decisions that deliver greater impact.”
The introduction of low-impact notification as a regulatory tool aligns with Western Australia’s move toward a risk-based framework for mining approvals, a shift that Amec and other industry stakeholders have been advocating for nearly two decades.
“If Western Australia is serious about a risk-based approach, low-impact notification provides the right lever,” Van Drunen stated.
The reallocation of departmental resources from low-risk to high-risk activities is expected to enhance the efficiency of environmental regulation while maintaining Western Australia’s high environmental standards.
“This is a paper-killing regulation. It will save everyone time and money, so explorers can get on with the job of what they do best, finding future mines,” Van Drunen said.
The new regulations are set to support the commitments outlined in the Mining Amendment Bill 2021.
“This trial promises greater clarity and certainty for proponents to invest in new mineral exploration projects and will also free up departmental resources to prioritise compliance and more complex approvals,” he added.
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