Proposed reforms to support small scale gold miners

Small scale gold miners will benefit from easier tenure applications, quicker assessments and lower costs under proposed changes announced by the Newman Government today.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps released a discussion paper titled Reducing Red Tape for Small Scale Alluvial Mining, which outlines the proposals.

Mr Cripps said the reforms honoured a commitment included in the Newman Government’s Six-Month Action Plan and complemented earlier moves to modernise legislation that applies to the resources sector.

“These small gold operators are important for commercial business in remote communities, particularly in North Queensland, as they make a significant contribution to regional economies, and support hundreds of local jobs,” Mr Cripps said.

“Research has shown that in view of Queensland’s geological diversity, there’s potential for the discovery of new gold deposits, so it’s important to upgrade and streamline our services.

“While this particular program has been developed with a focus on small-scale alluvial mining, the benefits will flow to the broader mining sector.

“Small scale gold miners will now be able to use mapping and satellite imagery to mark out the area of their proposed operations rather than using the traditional practice of physically pegging out their claims.

“We’re also proposing to increase the size of leases that can be applied for during the two-month moratorium on land released from an exploration permit.”

Mr Cripps said the Newman Government is also looking at facilitating compensation agreements specific to particular properties, making the notification and objection process more efficient.

“The alluvial gold industry has demonstrated that small operations can turn a profit in areas where larger mining companies don’t consider projects to be economically viable,” he said.

“This latest package of reforms comes out of DNRM’s Streamlining Project, and continues the program of work eliminating cumbersome, time-consuming and often complex and costly processes.”

The discussion paper is available at http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/mining/775.htm. Submissions close on Friday 26 July 2013.

[ENDS] 15 July 2013

Media contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237