WA Govt cuts more mining red tape

Bill Marmion
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Housing

The State Government has cut red tape for the mining industry with a change to the Programme of Work (PoW) approvals system, extending the validity period for PoW approvals from two to four years. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said: “This decision provides greater flexibility for industry to manage exploration programs, and will improve efficiency and reduce duplication for the resources industry, while at the same time ensuring strict environmental standards.”

The Minister said PoW approvals ensured resource companies conducted exploration in an environmentally sustainable way and set out the timeframe for companies to complete exploration works. This includes unforeseen events that can impact on exploration work such as extreme weather, access to operators and equipment, and funding.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum received 10,372 PoW applications between 1st January 2009 and 30th June 2013; 2,596 PoW applications in 2012; and 1,160 PoW applications in the first two quarters of 2013.

The PoW period of validity was extended following feedback from stakeholders. The period of validity will only apply where the scope of the exploration work remains unchanged. “If a company wants to conduct work outside what was approved, they will need to seek further approval before they are able to carry out that work,” the Minister said.