Mining Act 1971

The first step that a proponent who is seeking an agreement with the Minister under this Part must take is to consult with the Director of Mines about the proposal.

Consultation with the Director for the purposes of subsection (1) is initiated by an application made to the Director in a manner and form determined by the

An application—

must incorporate or be accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by the regulations; and

must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

The Director may require the proponent—

to furnish to the Director any additional information specified by the Director (and that information must be furnished within any period specified by the Director); and

to undertake any consultation required by the guidelines issued by the Minister or specified by the Director (and that consultation must be undertaken within a period specified by the Director); and

to take any other action specified by the Director.

The Director may—

bring the consultation envisaged by subsection (1) to an end as the Director thinks fit;

at the end of the consultation, advise the proponent—

that the matter may proceed to an application to the Minister for the purposes of this Part; or

that the matter is not, in the opinion of the Director, suitable for further consideration under this Part.

If subsection (5)(b)(i) applies, the proponent is entitled to proceed to make an application to the Minister (but otherwise the matter may not proceed further under this Part).