PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Northern Territory government on Monday announced a new process for land access agreements between the mining, petroleum and agriculture industries.

The new process included the establishment of a land access agreements for exploration activities considered to create more disturbance, and required the lodgment of a mining management plan or petroleum environmental plan.

If agreements over the conditions of the land access could not be reached within six days, the matter would be referred to an arbitration panel, which would be made-up of high-level government and industry representatives.

The arbitration panel would arbitrate a successful agreement within 21 days, and once this agreement has been reached, the Department of Mines and Energy could approve the mining management plan or petroleum environment plan.

Chief Minister Adam Giles said the new process to establish land access agreements struck a balance between the rights of resource companies to explore and the rights of pastoralists to be advised, informed and consulted before exploration begins.

“Mining, petroleum and agriculture are critical to the ongoing economic development of the Northern Territory,” he said.

“This process recognises that mining and petroleum companies need to work together with pastoralists for the future prosperity of the Northern Territory.”

He added that the Department of Mines and Energy had developed a best practice framework for explorers when negotiating access arrangements with landholders that ensured a balance between the interests of pastoralists and resource companies.

“From a handshake to a fully documented process, this process recognises that individual property managers, mining and petroleum companies need more than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

“Pastoralists will be provided with the opportunity to gain early knowledge of what may be planned by the explorer, and for both parties to discuss appropriate shared land-use arrangements that allow respective activities to take place without undue inconvenience or disruption.”

The new process has been welcomed by both sides of the border, with the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) saying that the process would help deliver positive outcomes for pastoralists and petroleum explorers seeking access to their properties.

“Experience shows that when landholders and explorers talk about their plans and activities, identify issues and work together to find solutions, everybody benefits,” said Appea director for the Northern Territory, Steven Gerhardy.

“It’s really about building relationships based on trust and mutual respect.”

The Minerals Council of Australia has also welcomed the announcement, but warned that there were still a number of issues to be worked through.

“While the new process is welcome, we don’t want to see uncertainty created by the introduction of more bureaucratic structures that are of no benefit to anyone,” said executive director for the Northern Territory, Drew Wagner.

“We believe the most important consideration that must be placed at the centre of land access agreements is certainty.  Without this, new investment will not occur, jobs won’t be created and economic growth won’t happen.”

Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association CEO Tracey Hayes also said that the access agreements would give pastoralists a greater say over what happened on their land and their capacity to manage things such as access, water resources, biosecurity, soil erosion and relationships when miners and oil and gas companies enter their properties

“The announcement today is a significant milestone in the future of the pastoral industry and rural communities in the Northern Territory,” Hayes said.