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The department has developed a series of guides to help existing and prospective permit holders
understand the legislation around the issue of permits, and their responsibilities as a permit
holder. The guide provides information about these permits and how we apply the Mineral
Resources Act1989.
You can use this guide to help you complete an application for exploration permit for mineral and
coal* as well as see what information the department requires to complete the assessment of
your application. It includes:
an overview of exploration permits and an explanation of the legislation governing the
issue of new exploration permits
advice on how to prepare and lodge a properly made application, including how to
complete forms and what fees are required
how an application is assessed by departmental staff, including departmental and
applicant responsibilities
contact details for the regions and mining districts in Queensland.
Key information
The Mineral Resources Act 1989 (the Act) describes what needs to be done to ensure you fulfil your
permit obligations. The Mineral Resources Regulation 2013 supports the Act, and describes how the
Acts requirements are to be carried out to ensure compliance with your resource permit obligations.
This information will help ensure your exploration permit application is processed in the most efficient
and timely way and with the least amount of delay or disruption.
Managing Queenslands resources
All mineral and coal resources in Queensland are generally owned by the state. Individuals or
companies may apply to explore or extract those resources.
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines (the department) manages those resources
on behalf of the stateby applying a regulatory framework to administer the provisions of the
relevant legislation. This legislation provides a way to assess, develop and utilise the mineral
and coal resources in Queensland for the benefit of Queensland and its people.
Mineral and coal permits are administered by the department under the Mineral Resources Act
1989 (the MRA) and the Mineral Resources Regulation 2013 (the MRR). The legislation:
encourages and facilitates exploration for and mining of minerals
improves knowledge of the mineral resources in Queensland
minimises land-use conflicts that can arise from prospecting, exploring and mining
encourages environmental responsibility and land care management in the resources
industries
ensures that the state receives a financial return from mining
provides a framework to manage and regulate prospecting, exploration, and production
activities.
These objectives are used when we assess and grant permits. It is done in such a way that
ensures best practice, production-oriented, competent exploration and development.
The Queensland Governments uranium policy is that it will not grant mining tenements for the
purpose of mining uranium in Queensland, nor will it permit the treatment or processing of
uranium within the State.
The full legislation is available online from the Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel
website. You can purchase copies of Queensland Acts and Regulations from the Queensland
Government Bookshop.
The MRA is what is known as the head of power for the regulation of exploration permits, and
describes what needs to be done. It includes general provisions about mining permits in
addition to specific requirements. Both the applicant or holder and the department have
responsibilities relating to these provisions.
Practice manual
Section 202 of the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014 allows for the
Chief Executive of the department to keep a practice manual about mining permit administration
practice to guide and inform people dealing with the department. The manual includes practice
directions about what information, documents or instruments (material) a person may or must
give, how or when requested material must be given, the format of requested material, and
practices to ensure there is consistency and efficiency in mining tenement administration
processes. The practice manual is maintained on the departmental website at
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/mining/applications-compliance/policies-guidelines
Operational policies
Operational policies are not required to be legislated by parliament. They describe how the
department will interpret aspects of the MRA, and set out rules the department will apply in a
uniform manner. Operational policies include transparent guidelines for staff to follow to ensure
consistency and efficiency in mining permit administration processes. A detailed list of
operational policies for exploration permits assessments may be found at
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/mining/applications-compliance/policies-guidelines
This guideline also references particular policies where applicable.
Your application
This guide outlines your requirements to apply for a coal and mineral exploration permit and
complements the departments guides for mining lease and mineral development applications.
You can apply using MyMinesOnline or submit a written application available from our
assessment hubs. You can register for MyMinesOnline by visiting the Queensland governments
Business and Industry Portal. Selecting For Industry > Mining and Resources > Mining Online
Services > MyMinesOnline.
Full MyMinesOnline system access is granted by verifying two types identification: one each
from columns A and B. The table below shows which items of ID are accepted. If sending your
ID documents by post or email, only certified originals will be accepted.
In addition to proof of identity for each permit holder, you must also provide the department with
a number of other documents, which the department has covered in other guides:
Your overall Development Plan or Work Program rationale and activities for each
year of your permit
Financial and Technical Capability statements
The details of your involvement in any other Queensland resource exploration
commitments
A number of supporting documents may also be required to accompany your application:
Proof of identity for an authorised holder representative (if not already a registered
user of MyMinesOnline - refer to the Proof of Identity section above)
Your rationale for conditionally surrendering any of your existing permits
Your Environmental Authority application, including maps of environmentally
sensitive areas, and Registered Suitable Operator application (both assessed and
issued through the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection)
Native Title documentation, including any private indigenous land use agreements
(ILUA) or details of existing state ILUA native title documents
Reference details for government research (QDEX)
Private research documents declaring any third parties providing technical expertise.
The following table provides an overview of the holder, authorised holder and authorised holder
representative structure. Current legislation allows co-ownership of mining permits by two or
more people or companies as either tenants in common or as joint tenants. Unless otherwise
specified, tenants in common is the default co-ownership structure.
Tenants in common allows two or more companies and/or individuals to hold separate and
distinct proportional permit shares. In the case of individuals, the right for a permit holder to
leave permit interests to beneficiaries upon their death is in accordance with the directions in
their will: that is, it does not pass automatically to the remaining tenant/s in common.
Joint tenancy is commonly held by individuals owning equal permit shares. When a joint tenant
dies, the permit share automatically passes in equal proportion to any surviving holder/s. Joint
tenants must hold an equal share in the permit (for example, 50% each if two or 25% each if
four tenants etc.) but unlike Tenants in common, a will does not override joint tenancy.
An authorised holder (AH) is the individual or company authorised to liaise with the
department about a registered permit. In the case of individuals being sole holders, that person
will be the authorised holder representative, unless an agent is nominated to act on their behalf.
Authorised holder representatives (AHR) are those people or parties nominated by the
company (an agent or individual in that company).
Multiple holders must nominate a person from one of the holder companies, or an agent
company, to act on their behalf. A Letter of Authority signed by the holder/s needs to
accompany the application to indicate that permission has been given.
All of the details and requirements for your Letter of Authority, including a template to help you
prepare this document, are outlined in the departments Authorised holder representative
guide and Letter of authority template.
Generally applicants will use the departments online spatial system to review the areas that are
available for application and to research past tenures and geological information for the area.
You will need to ensure that you have given regard to the constrained land layer and other
restrictions. See Operational policy 7/2012: Prescribed areas (excess and non-contiguous)
before finalising your blocks and sub-blocks for application.
Land within a moratorium area (an area previously part of an exploration permit which has been
surrendered, abandoned, relinquished or expired) is considered Excluded Land for at least 2
calendar months from the date of the surrender or expiry. Exploration permit applications are
not permitted for the same mineral over this land until it is released from moratorium. Land
within an existing undecided application or granted exploration permit is unavailable unless the
application is for a different mineral (including coal), or the current holder conditionally
surrenders a granted exploration permit over the same area in favour of a new exploration
permit in the same name, for the same resource. Additional provisions include overlapping land
for some permit types, Priority Agricultural Areas, Priority Living Areas , Strategic Environmental
Areas, Strategic Cropping Areas or declared high preservation areas.
Size restrictions
Exploration permit applications for coal cannot exceed 300 sub-blocks, or 100 sub-blocks for
any other exploration permit. If your permit application exceeds this maximum area, a statement
outlining why you are requesting extra land must be submitted for Ministerial approval. Online
applications should include this document as part of Step 4: Land Availability Report.
Sub-block applications over urban, residential or town land must include a work program clearly
demonstrating how the applicant will minimise any land use conflicts in these specific areas
before such applications may be considered.
Overlapping permits include existing resource permits that intersect your application. The
ability to proceed with the application therefore depends on the type and extent of permit
overlap. However, where legislation prohibits overlaps, this area will be excluded from your
permit application area, should it be accepted.
Unavailable land is generally excluded from applications, even though MyMinesOnline wont
prohibit an application being submitted over this type of restricted land. However, this area will
be removed from your permit application area should the department accept your application.
While unavailable land is generally exempt, there are some specific circumstances (where an
applicant wishes to conditionally surrender an existing permit in favour of another application,
for example) where an application over unavailable land may be accepted.
Constrained land has conditions limiting certain exploration or production activities. Areas of
constrained land do not have to be identified on your application, but it is important to be aware
that constraints may impact the range of activities you will be permitted to undertake.
Restricted Areas are listed with areas of constrained land, even though in many instances,
applications will not be accepted over restricted areas. For these, you may be able to apply for a
higher form of permit (such as a mining lease).
Conditional surrender
If you are applying to conditionally surrender part or whole an existing exploration permit in
favour of a new one, the new permit application will take effect immediately prior to the granting
of the newly granted permit. It must be in the same name as the surrendered one and
completely surrendered in the area of the new permit. Only a single conditional surrender will be
considered for any permit or set of permits, and no conditionally surrendered permits may be
incorporated into further (bulk) conditional surrenders.
Work Programs
Your Work Program provides the Department of Natural Resources and Mines with a detailed
summary of the activities you propose to undertake in your permit or lease. Your proposed work
program should be divided annually and relate to the rationale and geological model developed
for the proposed permit area. Focusing your data collection on exploration activities contributing
to the areas resource knowledge will also help you determine its resource potential and status.
The onus is on applicants to demonstrate how the financial and technical capability and
commitments for the permit will be met. Provision of funding and technical resources may be
shared across multiple holders, or one holder may assume the majority of responsibility for one
or the other.
To address these requirements, applicants need to supply a financial and technical capability
and commitment documentation, as well as the appropriate evidence details below.
Log in to MyMinesOnline, select Apply for a new permit or renew a permit under the
I want to options at the right of the My dashboard tab and select Enter a new
permit application. Information on Mining Tenure types and the relevant forms are
also available to download
1. If you agree with the Terms and Conditions, select Continue and use the
drop down boxes to select the Resource Type either mineral or coal and the
Permit Type you are applying for, select Next
Note: At this stage the system creates the new application. This may take a
few moments. You need to wait until the screen displays with the link
Continue to your application.
2. Select the Continue to your application link
Once created, the steps to follow for the new permit application display in the
Application status summary table if completing the steps online. Complete each
step as described in the summary. The status of each step displays once details
are completed. Some steps will not be available until a preceding step is
completed.
3. Select Step 1.
Step 1: Permit details
From the Application status summary table or form, select Step 1: Permit details Not applicable
1. Enter the Permit Name (for your reference only as it will not be used by the
Department)
2. Specify the term of the proposed permit. The maximum term that may be
granted is 5 years.
4. Select Save
Note: After each step, the system refreshes to display the status. If a step is
complete, the Complete status displays. If incomplete, the status Incomplete
displays. Steps can be revisited throughout the process.
Note: If you select to proceed without undertaking a native title process, you need
to indicate (by use of the check box) that if after a full assessment is completed it is
determined that native title does exist; you accept that a native title process is
required and advertising fees will be requested by the department.
3. Select Next
4. Review the Native title process summary and select Save.
Please review our full Native Title Guide on land access and native title for mining
activities.
Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms.
You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication.
For more information on this licence, visit www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The Queensland Government shall not be liable for technical or
other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other
consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information.
Visit: www.dnrm.qld.gov.au
To learn more about our secure and efficient MyMinesOnline system,
please visit our Mining online services webpage or
contact one of our Assessment hubs.
Notes:
1. Applications can be submitted via MyMinesOnline
or by paper at a Mines Lodgement Office
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/
mining/mining-online-
services/myminesonline
Administrative Environmental Technical Native Title
2. Tender applications must be made on paper as per
the tender documents. Tender applications are
assessment by a panel of experts to determine the
priority applications to proceed to full assessment and
decision.
Negotiation
Register the between parties
New ILUA