Mining Act 1978

Subject to this Act, the Minister may, on the application of any person, after receiving a recommendation of the mining registrar or the warden, grant to such person a lease to be known as a general purpose lease for use by him in respect to mining operations on such terms and conditions as the Minister considers reasonable.

Any such person may be granted more than one general purpose lease.

The area of land in respect of which any one general purpose lease may be granted shall not exceed 10 ha, unless the Minister is satisfied that a larger area of land is required for the purposes of the lease, and shall be limited to such depth below the natural surface of the land as may be specified in the lease or, where no depth is so specified, to 15 m below the lowest part of the natural surface of the land.

An application for the grant of a general purpose lease in respect of any land —

shall be made, and may be objected to, in like manner to an application for a mining lease; and

shall be determined in the same manner as an application for a mining lease.

An application for the grant of a general purpose lease in respect of an area of land which exceeds 10 ha shall be accompanied by a statement specifying the reasons why such an area of land is required for the purposes of the lease.