The Regulator has recently updated the following documents to assist holders of mining leases under the Mining Act 1992 achieve rehabilitation completion progressively and submit applications for rehabilitation sign-off.
See updates below.
Guideline: Achieving rehabilitation completion (sign-off)
The purpose of this guideline is to assist holders of mining leases to identify, track and verify achievement of regulatory obligations under the Mining Act 1992 to achieve rehabilitation completion progressively and before mining lease relinquishment.
Download the Guideline: Achieving rehabilitation completion (sign-off) (PDF, 667 KB)
Recent updates include:
- an Executive Summary
- information under the ‘Rehabilitation completion’ section relating to the monitoring data required, monitoring timeframes and the requirement to rehabilitate ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’
- clarification provided in ‘Step 2: Establish and finalise rehabilitation outcome documents’ regarding the timing of the submission of a rehabilitation completion criteria statement
- information provided in ‘Step 5: Implement rehabilitation, monitor progress and actively manage’ regarding where to obtain guidance about monitoring programs
- new ‘Step 7 - Submitting a rehabilitation completion application’ added which includes a flowchart of the rehabilitation completion process
- new ‘Adequacy review’ section added outlining the department’s process for checking the adequacy of an application
- new ‘Examples’ section added providing examples of rehabilitation completion and sign-off by the department (also includes a new Appendix 2)
- new ‘Post determination actions by lease holder’ section outlining actions required by lease holder after completed rehabilitation has been signed off
- information included in ‘Alternative post mining land uses’ section summarising key criteria that need to be met prior to the department signing off on rehabilitation associated with an alternative post mining land use
- new ‘Appendix 1: Checklist for a rehabilitation completion application’
- new ‘Appendix 3: Example rehabilitation objectives and rehabilitation completion criteria submission - large mines’
- new ‘Appendix 4: Example rehabilitation objectives and rehabilitation completion criteria submission - small mines’.
Application form: Rehabilitation completion
This application form is used to seek formal confirmation (i.e. sign-off) from the Regulator that rehabilitation on a mining lease has been successful.
This can include partial/progressive rehabilitation or the completion of all rehabilitation activities.
The application for is available on the Rehabilitation and mining forms page.
Recent updates include:
- removed sections dealing with notification of matters under the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 (now an online form within Regulator Portal)
- amended the ‘When not to use this form’ section to advise that seeking confirmation of rehabilitation completion on exploration / prospecting titles and seeking a review of the security deposit are now done online via the Regulator Portal
- amended the ‘How this application will be processed’ section to include the adequacy review by the department within 30 business days of submission
- amended Question 3 to include reference to the nominated contact person under clause 19 in Schedule 8A of Mining Regulation 2016
- additions to Question 4.1 to refer to the rehabilitation management plan and rehabilitation outcome documents as per Schedule 8A of Mining Regulation 2016
- additions to Question 4.2 to refer to rehabilitation objectives and rehabilitation completion criteria statements in Schedule 8A of Mining Regulation 2016
- new Question 4.3 dealing with submission of ‘Rehabilitation’ theme spatial data to the Mine Rehabilitation Portal
- new Question 4.8 to clarify that security deposit applications are now done online via the Regulator Portal
- new Question 4.9 to remind mines that applications to relinquish a mining lease are done separately following sign off of rehabilitation
- new Question 4.11 to include evidence of consultation with relevant government agencies.
