PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government is hoping to slash the turnaround time for resource permit applications by up to 80%, with the introduction of an online application system.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the MyMinesOnline project would be a real game changer for industry compared with the old days when paper forms had to be lodged over the counter.
“MyMinesOnline now allows coal, mineral, petroleum and gas companies operating in Queensland to lodge applications for 72 different resource permit transactions electronically.
“This makes Queensland even more competitive globally when it comes to attracting the mining and exploration investment that we need to generate jobs.”
Lynham said the average time to grant an exploration permit for minerals had been cut by 58% since December 2010, noting that exploration permit applications were taking an average 22 months to process through the old over-the-counter paper lodgment system.
Exploration permit applications lodged through MyMinesOnline could be dealt with in less than six months if a native title process was not required, while a mineral development licence could be processed and granted in five weeks.
Renewals and transfers of permits involving new parties would see a 72% reduction in time, while the time to register agreements between landholder and mining parties also reduced by 80%.
“MyMinesOnline has become one of the most advanced natural resources permit lodgment, management and assessment systems in the world, which shows Queensland is open for business,” the Minister said.