govt urges miners to comment on woomera plans

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/govt-urges-miners-to-comment-on-woomera-plans-2012-04-23

By: Esmarie Swanepoel
23rd April 2012
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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The federal government has urged the mining industry to comment on plans to allow exploration and mining activities in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), in South Australia.

“Industry engagement is critical to ensuring the interim arrangements are both practical for the resource industry and effective in protecting the security of defence activities,” Defence Minister Stephen Smith said.

The WPA, which covers an area of 127 000 km2, was declared a prohibited area under the Defence Force Regulations and is used for the testing of Royal Australian Air Force equipment.

While defence would remain the primary user of the WPA, the area would be divided into green, amber and red zones, each offering different levels of access, or timeshare, to nondefence users.

“I strongly encourage current and prospective industry users of the WPA to comment on the draft deed, as the framework will support resources development and defence activities in the WPA,” Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson added.

The public comment period would remain open until June 15, and once the deed of access and supporting processes have been finalised, the federal government would be in a position to mark the end of the moratorium phase.

Companies would then be allowed to apply for access to the WPA based on the coexistence framework, supported by the deed of access.

The federal government would consider all exploration and mining applications within the WPA on a case-by-case basis, the government said, examining a range of operational, safety and national security issues in determining whether a particular mining activity could coexist with defence activities.

In making its assessment, the government would consult with the company concerned, as well as with the state government.