Mining coal underground
using a "longwall"

The legislation

Mining and exploration in New South Wales is dealt with under the Mining Act 1992 and the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 and accompanying Regulations.  These Acts and Regulations can be found on the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office webpage.www.legislation.nsw.gov.au  

Types of mining and exploration title

• Exploration Licence Renewals
• Exploration Licence
• Assessment Lease
• Mining Lease
• Mineral Claim
• Opal Prospecting Licence
• Petroleum Exploration Licences

Minerals and petroleum titles factsheets are under currently review. Enquires relating to mineral and petroleum matters can be referred to:

• Coal Matters: (02) 4931 6512
• Other Mineral Matters: (02) 4931 6500

Information about applications and titles

Records of each Exploration Licence, Assessment Lease, Mining Lease application and petroleum titles are kept at the Department's Head Office, Maitland.Information about Mineral Claims and Opal Prospecting Licences are kept by the Mining Registrar for the Mining Division in which the land is situated.Details of each Exploration Licence, Assessment Lease, Mining Lease and Mineral Claim (other than those situated at Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs) application and title including location maps can be obtained from the Department's computerised Title Administration System (TAS). TAS can currently be accessed at the Department's Head Office, Maitland and at the Orange, and Singleton and Wollongong regional offices.

Overview

One of the principal outcomes of the Department of Primary Industry’s Corporate Plan is that industry sees New South Wales (NSW) as an attractive state in which to invest.

One of the corporate strategies for achieving this is to:

“Provide a stable and secure licensing and titles management regime”.

All exploration and mining activity in NSW (with the exception of Private Mining Agreements) must be conducted on titles and these are issued and administered by the Titles program.  These titles provide the control mechanism for government by stipulating operating and environmental conditions.  They also give proponents and title holders exclusive rights to explore and mine for minerals, as well as the guaranteed security required for investment in minerals exploration and mining development.

Most titles are issued under the following legislation, which cover onshore areas of NSW:

• The Mining Act 1992
• The Petroleum (Onshore Act) 1982

Offshore titles to up to three nautical miles from the coast are issued under:

• Offshore Minerals Act 1999
• Petroleum (Offshore ) Act 1991

Offshore titles beyond three nautical miles from the coast are issued under Commonwealth legislation, which is administered jointly by NSW and the Commonwealth Government.

Where can I go for more information?

If you require the services of a Mining Agent to assist you to prepare an exploration or mining application, please refer to the section in the yellow pages entitled “Mineral Exploration”.

Or

For more information contact Titles Branch:

• Coal Matters: (02) 4931 6512
• Other Mineral Matters: (02) 4931 6500