Mineral Resources Act 1989

During the currency of a mineral development licence, the holder shall carry out or cause to be carried out such activities as are specified in the licence by the Minister.

The Minister may specify in a mineral development licence that no activity need be carried out for the term of the licence or for such period as is specified therein.

Without in any way limiting the activities that the Minister may specify in a mineral development licence, activities leading to the evaluation and economic development of an ore body by or on behalf of the holder may include—

geological, geophysical and geochemical programs and other works as are reasonably necessary to evaluate the potential for development of any mineral occurrence of possible economic potential occurring in or on the area of the mineral development licence; and

mining feasibility studies; and

metallurgical testing; and

environmental studies; and

marketing studies; and

engineering and design studies; and

such other activities as the Minister considers appropriate.

During the currency of a mineral development licence—

the holder—

may carry out or cause to be carried out any activities (including activities referred to in subsection (2)) as are appropriate for the purpose for which the licence is granted; and

may, in relation to the area of the mineral development licence, do all such things as are authorised or were authorised, at the time of the application for the mineral development licence, under the relevant exploration permit then held by the applicant for the mineral development licence; and

may carry out or cause to be carried out the plugging and abandoning, or otherwise remediating, of a legacy borehole and rehabilitating of the surrounding area in compliance with the requirements prescribed under a regulation; and

the holder and any person who acts for the purpose of carrying out any activity authorised by the mineral development licence with or by such vehicles, vessels, machinery and equipment as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose may, in compliance with the Common Provisions Act, chapter 3, enter any part of the area of the mineral development licence for any purpose permitted or required under the licence or by this Act; and

the holder of the mineral development licence, subject to compliance with this Act, may have considered for grant, in priority to all other persons, any number of mineral development licences and mining leases relating to any minerals specified in the mineral development licence in respect of any land in the area of the mineral development licence and may enter that land for the purpose of doing all acts necessary to comply with this Act relating to an application therefor.

The holder of a mineral development licence, and each person who enters or is upon land under the authority of the licence, shall comply with the terms and conditions upon which any consent required to be given under this Act in respect thereof was given by the owner of that land.

For the purposes of exercising entitlements under this part a person who enters or is upon land under the authority of a mineral development licence may stay at night thereon and for that purpose may set up temporary accommodation thereon.

During the currency of a mineral development licence, the rights of the holder of the licence relate, and are taken to have always related, to the whole of the area of the licence.