PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian government has established a new land access working group to review the statutory framework for land access by the resources industry.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L'Estrange said on Thursday that the move was a direct response to recommendations contained in the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' report titled 'Inquiry into the Implications for Western Australia of Hydraulic Fracturing for Unconventional Gas'.
“The land access working group will review existing provisions under the state's mining and petroleum legislation, with a primary focus on onshore petroleum," L'Estrange said.
The working group will comprise representatives from industry and farmer organisations, local government, the Conservation Council of Western Australia and various state government agencies, and will be chaired by the director-general of the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
The working group would compare land access arrangements in other jurisdictions and make recommendations to the state government, including possible changes to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association's 'Farming Land Access Agreement' template.
L'Estrange said the group would also consider and advise in relation to recommendations for a statutory body to act as an independent arbiter for land owners and resource companies in land access negotiations.
The working group is expected to make its recommendations at the end of June 2018.