This is the second trenche of notes from the SMEDG meeting that have been sent to me for posting at HotCopper.
SMEDG 28th April 2016
The Rugby Club, Sydney
`Our Social Licence to Operate'
Visiting speaker- Kylie Hargreaves, Deputy Secretary, Department of Industry, Resources and Energy (DRE) -
Notes on questions & comments from the floor.
[28] Several comments from the floor to effect that NSW is the basket case in
Australia for mineral exploration and development. There are so many more
regulatory hoops to jump through here than, for example, in WA.
Figures suggested of less than 10 in WA compared to 88 in NSW, although that has now been reduced to 13. And multiple department approvals required in NSW.
[29] Another theme was the Department staff answering queries did not know the
correct forms or relevant advice, or were in fear of loosing their own
jobs.... not conducive to good service. There has been, in more recent
times, staff changes contributing to this status, but KH indicated that
it should be more stable now.
[30] The audience still felt that there may have been significant loss of knowledge due to staff departures from the department.
[31] The time to actually to get an EL approval was a hot topic. Something that lasted 2 years could take 2 1/2 years to receive! Apparently an EL now could last 6 years.
[32] KH stated that she has to perform a balancing act in undertaking reforms and listen to all parties.
[33] A question asked how they actually assess this "Social Licence", given
that opponents tend to be very noisy squeaky wheels, making themselves look
as big as possible. That was after she said it applied across all of NSW,
not just the potential mining area.
[34] KH had raised the example of North Parkes as a case where there is very
high local support. She replied that views will be weighted so that views
from afar will not carry the same emphasis as those in the local region. The
feeling was that the mechanism of doing this is still being worked on.
[35] Another gripe for NSW was the number and amount of fees required but this will be reduced.
[36] There was a comparison made for the different standards for a farmer to drill for a well and a miner to drill for a water bore!!!
[37] The floor was, in general, not critical of the DRE but more critical of the
government level and requested Kylie to pursue reforms up to that level.
[38] The sense was that it was the Carr Labor government that put these
obstacles in the way of mineral exploration and no government since has
returned it to relative reality (cf WA). Note by Welkin31 - The Wardens Court was axed about 2008 when Labor was in Govt - a retrograde move for explorers and the Govt who owns all minerals in the ground.
[39] Kylie was emphatic that all things be evidence based and they do have
to deal with litigation on their decisions, so fully understand that.
[40] The audience was appreciative that Kylie was willing to come into a lions' den of mineral explorationists to explain things from her perspective and answer questions.
