Uranium (Yeelirrie) Agreement Act 1978

shall be published in the Gazette;

shall take effect and have the force of law from the date they are so published or from a later date fixed by the order making the by‑laws;

may prescribe penalties not exceeding one hundred dollars for a breach of any of the by‑laws;

are not subject to section 3 of the Interpretation Act 1918,

The Corporation has established the existence of an are body containing in excess of 20 million tonnes of commercial grade uranium ore.

The Corporation intends to establish a metallurgical research plant at Kalgoorlie at a cost in excess of $7 million and under a programme estimated to cost approximately $6 million to test such ore.

The Corporation is currently investigating the economic feasibility of constructing a uranium and vanadium treatment plant at Yeelirrie with a capacity to treat 1.21 million tonnes of ore per year to produce uranium oxide (yellow‑cake) and vanadium oxide (red‑cake) for export through a port or ports in Western Australia.

The Corporation intends to provide facilities and services necessary for the accommodation health safety and welfare of its workforce and to take adequate measures to safeguard the public and the environment in its operation under this Agreement.

The Corporation has in respect of both the proposed metallurgical research plant and the uranium vanadium treatment plant submitted environmental review and management programmes to the State for consideration.

The Corporation is currently negotiating with Esso Exploration and Production Australia Inc., a company duly incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States of America and having its principal office in Australia at 127 Kent Street, Sydney and Urangesellschaft Australia Pty. Limited a company duly incorporated in Victoria and having its registered office at 608 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne for the joint development with a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Mining Corporation Limited (to be incorporated in Western Australia) of the project referred to in this Agreement.

any company or corporation having a paid up capital of not less than $2 000 000 notified by the Corporation to the Minister which is incorporated or formed within the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, the Federal Republic of Germany or such other country as the Minister may approve and which —

is promoted by the Corporation (or by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation having a Paid up capital of not less than $2 000 000) for all or any of the purposes of this Agreement and in which the Corporation or such wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, or some other company acceptable to the Minister has not less than a 25% interest or some lesser interest acceptable to the Minister; or

is related within the meaning of that term as used in section 6 of the Companies Act, 1081, to any company or corporation in which the Corporation or some other company or corporation acceptable to the Minister holds not less than 25% of the issued ordinary share capital; and

is notified to the Minister by the Corporation as being such a company; or

any company or corporation approved by the Minister;

monetary references are references to Australian currency unless otherwise specifically expressed;

power given under any clause other than Clause 37 to extend any period or date shall be without prejudice to the power of the Minister under Clause 37:

marginal notes do not affect the interpretation or construction; and

reference to an Act unless otherwise specifically expressed includes the amendments to that Act for the time being in force and also any Act passed in substitution therefor or in lieu thereof and the regulations for the time being in force thereunder.

introduce and sponsor a Bill in the Parliament of Western Australia to ratify this Agreement and endeavour to secure its passage as an Act prior to the 31st December, 1978; and

to the extent reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Agreement allow the Corporation to enter upon Crown lands (including, if applicable, land the subject of a pastoral lease).

the Bill referred to in Clause 3 has been passed by the Parliament of Western Australia and comes into operation as an Act; and

the Corporation has given the Minister notice that it desires to proceed with the objects of this Agreement.

When this Agreement comes into operation in the manner provided in subclause (1) of this Clause all the provisions of this Agreement shall operate and take effect notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or law.

If before 31st December, 1979 (or such later date as the Minister may at the request of the Corporation approve) the notice referred to in subclause (1) of this Clause is not given, this Agreement will then cease and determine and neither of the parties will have any claim against the other of them with respect to any matter or thing arising out of, done, performed or omitted to be done or performed under this Agreement.

As soon as the temporary reserve referred to under subclause (1) of this Clause has been created, the Corporation shall apply for and the State shall grant to it for a period terminating on the date the Corporation surrenders to the state the balance of its blue mineral claims referred to in paragraph (c) of subclause (7) of Clause 21 or the sooner determination of this Agreement, rights of occupancy for the purposes of this Agreement in respect of such land on such terms and conditions as the Minister for Mines may determine.

The provisions of the Mining Act shall be deemed to be modified to permit the creation of the temporary reserve under subclause (1) of this Clause and the grant of the rights of occupancy under subclause (2) of this Clause.

The Corporation shall keep the State fully informed at least quarterly as to the progress and results of its operations under subclause (1) of this Clause. The first quarterly report shall be lodged during the month of April, 1979 and shall be in respect of the quarter ending on the 31st day of March, 1979 and thereafter the quarterly reports shall be in respect of the quarter ending on the last day of the month preceding the month in which they are lodged.

The Corporation shall co‑operate with the State and consult with the representatives or officers of the state regarding matters referred to in subclause (1) of this Clause and any other relevant studies in relation to that subclause that the Minister may wish to undertake.

For the purposes of the construction and operation of the metallurgical research plant referred to in subclause (1) of this Clause, the State shall, on application by the Corporation, grant to the Corporation or arrange to have the appropriate authority or other interested instrumentality of the State grant, for such periods and on such terms and conditions (including renewal rights) as shall be reasonable having regard to the requirements of the Corporation —

a special lease under the Land Act of land at a site to be agreed for the said plant;

a pipeline easement for water over a route to be agreed from Addis Street Kalgoorlie to the said plant;

a powerline easement over a route to be agreed to connect with the Corporation’s existing Great Boulder‑Scotia powerline and the said plant;

a tailings licence under the Mining Act for disposal of tailings from the said plant by burial;

a licence under the Transport Commission Act 1888 to transport by road ore and water from the Yeelirrie region to the said plant;

a licence under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 to draw water from underground sources in the Yeelirrie region for transport to the said plant for experimental purposes.

the mining and treatment of ore including the disposal of tailings;

roads;

railways;

facilities at ports in the said State for the purposes of this Agreement;

housing and township requirements (including site and lay‑out) and including social, civic and engineering services;

water supply;

power generation and distribution;

any leases, licences or other tenures of required from the State;

any other works, services or facilities desired by the Corporation;

airport;

measures for the protection of aboriginal and historic sites;

safety measures, including radiometric measures, for the workforce and associated population and for the transport storage and shipping of the products of the treatment plant;

use of local professional services, labour and materials; and

an environmental management programme as to measures to be taken in respect of the Corporation’s operations under this Agreement for the protection and management of the environment.

The proposals may with the approval of the Minister and shall if so required by the State be submitted separately and in any order as to the matter or matters mentioned in one or more of paragraphs (a) to (n) of subclause (1) of this Clause.

The proposals relating to any of the matters mentioned in subclause (1) of this Clause may with the approval of the Minister and that of any third parties concerned instead of providing for the construction of new facilities of the kind therein mentioned provide for the use by the Corporation upon reasonable terms and conditions of any existing facilities of such kind.

At the time when the Corporation submits the said proposals it shall furnish to the reasonable satisfaction of the State evidence of —

the Corporation’s ability to profitably sell the products of the treatment plant or a substantial proportion thereof in accordance with the said proposals;

the availability of finance necessary for the fulfilment of the operations to which the said proposals refer; and

the readiness of the Corporation to embark upon and proceed to carry out the operations referred to in the said proposals.

If the Corporation for any reason desires an extension of time beyond the 31st December, 1982 within which to comply with the requirements of subclause (4) of this Clause it may make a request therefor to the Minister not earlier than the 1st October, 1982 or not later than the 30th November, 1982 and with such request shall supply the Minister with details of its endeavours to comply with those requirement if the Minister is satisfied that such endeavours are reasonable in the circumstances and that the Corporation has otherwise duly complied with its obligations hereunder the Minister shall grant an extension of such time for a period of 12 months.

approve of the said proposals either wholly or in part without qualification or reservation; or

defer consideration of or decision upon the same until such time as the Corporation submits a further proposal or proposals in respect of some other of the matters mentioned in subclause (1) of Clause 8 not covered by the said proposals; or

require as a condition precedent to the giving of his approval to the said proposals that the Corporation makes such alteration thereto or complies with such conditions in respect thereto as he (having regard to the circumstances including the overall development of and the use by others as well as the Corporation of all or any of the facilities proposed to be provided) thinks reasonable and in such a case the Minister shall disclose his reasons for such conditions.

The Minister shall within 2 months after receipt of the said proposals give notice to the Corporation of his decision in respect to the same.

If the decision of the Minister is as mentioned in either of paragraphs (b) or (c) of subclause (1) of this Clause the Minister shall afford the Corporation full opportunity to consult with him and should it so desire to submit new or revised proposals either generally or in respect to some particular matter.

If the decision of the Minister is as mentioned in paragraph (c) of subclause (1) of this Clause and the Corporation considers that any condition precedent is unreasonable the Corporation within 2 months after receipt of the notice mentioned in subclause (2) of this Clause may elect to refer to arbitration in the manner hereinafter provided the question of the reasonableness or the condition precedent.

An award made on an arbitration pursuant to sub‑clause (4) of this Clause shall have force and effect as follows —

if by the award the dispute is decided against the Corporation then unless the Corporation within 3 months after delivery of the award gives notice to the Minister of its acceptance of the award this Agreement shall on the expiration of that period of 3 months cease and determine; or

If by the award the dispute is decided in favour of the Corporation the decision shall take effect as a notice by the Minister that he is so satisfied with and approves the matter or matters the subject of the arbitration.

Notwithstanding that under subclause (1) of this Clause any detailed proposals of the Corporation are approved by the Minister or determined by arbitration award, unless each and every such proposal and the other matters referred to in subclause (4) of Clause 8 are so approved or determined by the 31st December, 1984 or by such extended date if any as the Corporation shall be granted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement then the Minister may give to the Corporation 12 months notice of intention to determine this Agreement and unless before the expiration of the said 12 months period all the detailed Proposals and matters are so approved or determined this Agreement shall cease and determine subject however to the provisions of Clause 39.

The Corporation shall during the currency of this Agreement at yearly intervals commencing from the date then the Corporation’s proposals are approved submit an interim report to the Minister concerning investigations and research carried out pursuant to subclause (1) of this Clause and at 3 yearly intervals commencing from such date submit a detailed report to the Minister on the result of the investigations and research during the previous 3 years.

The Minister may within 2 months of the receipt of the detailed report pursuant to subclause (2) of this Clause notify the Corporation that he requires additional detailed proposals to be submitted in respect of all or any of the matters the subject of the detailed report.

The Corporation shall within 2 months of the receipt of a notice given pursuant to subclause (3) of this Clause submit to the Minister additional detailed proposals as required and the provisions of Clause 9 (other than sub‑clause (5)) where applicable shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of such proposals.

The Corporation shall implement the proposals when approved or determined by arbitration in accordance with the terms thereof.

use the services of engineers, surveyors, architects and other professional consultants resident and available within the said State;

use labour available within the said State;

when calling for tenders and letting contracts for works materials plant equipment and supplies ensure that Western Australian suppliers manufacturers and contractors are given reasonable opportunity to tender or quote; and

give proper consideration and where possible preference to Western Australian suppliers manufacturers and contractors when letting contracts or placing orders for works materials plant equipment and supplies where price quality delivery and service are equal to or better than that obtainable elsewhere.

The Corporation shall from time to time during the currency of this Agreement when requested by the Minister submit a report concerning its implementation of the provisions of subclause (1) of this Clause.

The Corporation shall at its cost and in collaboration with the State continue to search for underground water within the mining areas. Where appropriate the Corporation shall employ and retain experienced groundwater consultants. The Corporation shall furnish to the Minister details of the results of its investigations and copies of the reports of such consultants as they become available.

If in the opinion of the Minister, the details and reports of the consultants pursuant to subclause (2) of this Clause indicate that any source of underground water in the mining areas is likely to be inadequate or unsuitable to supply the Corporation’s daily water requirements the parties hereto shall collaborate and agree on a programme which shall be carried out by and at the cost of the Corporation to search for water inside and outside the mining areas. The State may at its discretion require the Corporation to extend such water search to provide a quantity of water greater than that required to supply the Corporation’s daily water requirements, but in that event, the cost of such search shall be shared by the parties hereto in such a manner as may be agreed to be fair in all the circumstances.

If the investigations referred to in subclauses (2) and (3) of this Clause prove to the satisfaction of the Minister the availability of any suitable underground water source in or near the mining areas which can continue to be drawn on by the Corporation without seriously affecting the water level in that water source beneath the mining areas or adjacent areas or the availability of water in the adjacent areas the State shall grant to the Corporation a licence to develop and draw from that source without cost, the Corporation’s daily water requirements on such terms and conditions as are necessary to ensure good water resource management as the Minister may from time to time require and during the continuance of this Agreement grant renewals of any such licence PROVIDED HOWEVER that should that source prove hydrologically inadequate to meet the Corporation’s daily water requirements, the State may on at least 6 months prior notice to the Corporation (or on at least 48 hours prior notice if in the opinion of the Minister an emergency situation exists) limit the amount of water which may be taken from that source at any one time or from time to time to the maximum which that source is hydrologically capable of meeting as aforesaid.

The Corporation shall provide at its cost or with finance arranged by it and construct to standards and in accordance with designs approved by the State in accordance with the relevant approved proposal all necessary bores valves pipelines meters tanks equipment and appurtenances necessary to draw transport use and dispose of water drawn from sources licensed to the Corporation under this Clause.

Should the State at any time pursuant to the proviso to subclause (4) of this Clause limit the amount of water to be taken from any water source or if otherwise the Corporation’s daily water requirements cannot be met from any water source on a continuous basis the State shall with all reasonable expedition and in conjunction with and upon the request of the Corporation search for new or additional underground water sources with a view to restoring or ensuring the full quantity of the Corporation’s daily water requirements. The Corporation shall pay to the State a fair and reasonable proportion of the cost of investigating and developing such new and additional water sources as agreed between the Corporation and the State.

The State shall use its best endeavours to supply the Corporation with sufficient water (subject to availability of supply from other sources and to prior commitments if any to third parties) to meet that portion of the Corporation’s daily water requirements not obtainable from the water sources referred to in subclause (4) of this Clause pending the establishment of new and additional water sources pursuant to subclause (6) of this Clause on such terms and conditions as the Minister may determine after consultation with the Corporation.

In the event of water supplies from available underground sources proving insufficient to meet the Corporation’s daily water requirements the Corporation shall notwithstanding the provisions of subclause (4) of this Clause collaborate with the State in an investigation of surface water catchments and storage dams. The Corporation shall if it proposes to utilise such surface water, water catchments and storage dams pay to the State a sum or sums to be agreed towards the cost of such investigation and towards the cost of constructing any water storage dam or dams and reticulation facilities required.

If during the currency of any licence granted under the provisions of this Clause the Minister is of the opinion that it would be desirable for water conservation purposes or water management purposes that sources of water licensed to the Corporation be controlled and operated by the State as part of a regional water supply scheme the Minister may on giving 6 months prior notice to the Corporation of his intention revoke that licence and acquire the Corporation’s water supply facilities for a monetary consideration to be determined by the Minister. Immediately from the revocation of that licence the State shall, subject only to the continued hydrological availability of water from such sources, commence and thereafter continue to supply water to an amount and at a rate required by the Corporation being the amount and rate to which the Corporation was entitled under that revoked licence and the proviso to subclause (4) of this Clause and the provisions of subclause (6) of this Clause shall in like manner apply to this subclause.

The State, after first having due regard to the Corporation’s daily water requirements and to the hydrological adequacy of existing water sources, may in its discretion develop all or any of the surface and/or underground water resources referred to in this Clause or construct any works in connection therewith to a greater capacity than that required to supply the Corporation’s daily water requirements but in that event the Corporation shall pay to the State a share of the cost of the system as so enlarged as may be agreed between the parties to he fair in all the circumstances.

The State may after first having due regard to the Corporation’s daily water requirements and to the hydrological adequacy of the applicable water source, upon not less than 3 months prior notice to the Corporation specifying the identity of the third party including where applicable the State and the estimated maximum daily and total quantity of water to be drawn by that third party and the period over which such drawing is to occur, grant to a third party rights to draw water or itself draw water from that water source PROVIDED HOWEVER that —

where the Corporation has paid (in whole or in part) any moneys in respect of the investigation development and utilisation of that water source the State shall require as a condition of the grant that where the third party is or will be a substantial drawer of water from that water source within 5 years of the commencement date the third party (but not the State) shall reimburse to the Corporation prior to the third party exercising its rights to draw water, a proportion of such moneys as the Minister determines is fair and reasonable; and

where the Corporation draws water from that water source the State shall ensure that it is a condition of the grant to third parties that in the event that the capacity of that water source is reduced, such reduction shall be first applied to the third parties and thereafter if further reduction is necessary the State’s and the Corporation’s requirements shall be reduced in such proportion as may be agreed.

The Corporation shall pay to the State for water supplied by the State pursuant to subclauses (8) and (9) of this Clause a fair price to be agreed between the parties hereto having regard to the actual cost of operating and maintaining the supply and provision for replacement of the water supply facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subclause, in respect of water supplied by the State to the Corporation as aforesaid for domestic purposes the Corporation shall pay to the State therefor charges as levied from time to time pursuant to the provisions of the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947.

The Corporation shall to the extent that it is practical and economical design construct and operate all plant required under this Clause so as to ensure the most efficient use of the water supply including the use of brackish or saline water.

The State shall ensure that no rights to mine minerals petroleum or other substances are granted over area of any water source from which the Corporation is drawing water or from time to time have the right to draw water hereunder unless the Minister reasonably determines that such grant is not likely to unduly prejudice or to interfere with the operations of the Corporation hereunder and is not likely to render the water source incapable of supplying the Corporation’s daily water requirements on a continuous basis.

The Corporation may supply water to third parties including the State at a charge to be approved by the Minister after consultation with the Corporation. The Corporation shall have all the powers and authorities with respect to such water as are determined by the Minister which may include all or any of the powers of a water board under the Water Boards Act 1904 and, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government, a local authority under the Local Government Act 1960.

Any reference in the foregoing provisions of this Clause to a licence is a reference to a licence under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 and the provisions of that Act relating to water rights and licences shall except where inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement apply to any water source developed for the Corporation’s purposes under this Agreement.