Offshore Minerals Regulations 2010

regulations 1 and 2 — on the day on which these regulations are published in the Gazette;

the rest of the regulations — on the day on which the provisions of the Act, other than sections 1 and 2, come into operation.

In this regulation —

The GDA is prescribed for the purposes referred to in section 10(1).

The reference ellipsoid for the GDA is the GRS80 ellipsoid with a semi‑major axis of 6 378 137 m exactly and an inverse flattening (l/f) of 298.257 222 101.

The reference frame for the GDA is realised by the AFN coordinates referred to the GRS80 ellipsoid determined within the International Earth Rotation Service Terrestrial Reference Frame 1992 (ITRF92) at the epoch of 1994.0.

This regulation does not have effect on or after the day on which the Mines and Petroleum Regulations Amendment (Geocentric Datum) Regulations 2025 regulations 11(2) and 12 come into operation.

In this regulation —

The Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 is prescribed for the purposes referred to in section 10(1).

In this regulation —

For the purposes of sections 58(2) and 203(2), the prescribed way of drawing lots is as follows —

not less than 7 days before the drawing of lots, the Minister must give notice in writing of the time and place of the draw to each applicant;

subject to subregulation (3), the draw must be carried out in the presence of all applicants;

the Minister must write the name of each applicant on a separate paper of the same kind as the paper on which the name of each other applicant is written;

the papers and writing may be examined by each person present at the draw;

the papers must be folded in the same manner by the Minister and placed by him or her in an otherwise empty receptacle, the interior surface of which will not snag the papers;

a person who qualifies under subregulation (4) must draw the papers individually from the receptacle without looking into the receptacle;

the Minister must record on each paper the place of the paper in the order of drawing papers from the receptacle;

the Minister must record on each application the number that corresponds to the place in the draw of the paper relating to the application.

If an applicant who has been notified under subregulation (2)(a) does not attend the draw at the notified time and place, the draw may be conducted in his or her absence.

For the purposes of subregulation (2)(f), a person qualifies if the person —

is not the Minister, an applicant or an officer, employee or agent of an applicant; and

is declared in writing by each applicant present at the draw and the Minister to be acceptable.

geological maps, geological reports, profiles and drill logs prepared in connection with geological exploration; and

results of geotechnical, geochemical, geophysical, mineralogical, petrological and palaeontological investigation undertaken on samples;

bathymetric, gravitational, magnetic, navigational and seismic measurements; and

data collected by means of side scan sonar, side scan radar or a sub‑bottom profiler;

environmental data;

geological data;

geophysical data;

the location and type of samples taken;

the amount of money spent by the licence holder in carrying out work or activities under the licence in each year during which the licence is in force.

A licence holder must keep, in good condition, a drill core obtained in the course of carrying out work or activities under the licence unless the Minister has given permission for its disposal.

A licence holder may apply to the Minister for permission to dispose of a drill core.

An application under subregulation (2) must be made in the form approved by the Minister.

If the Minister decides to give permission, it must be given in writing.

has been brought into coastal waters for use in offshore exploration or mining activities; and

is not being used and is not intended to be used in exploration or mining activities in accordance with a licence.