Communicating Effectively With Mining Regulators

Miners in high-visibility PPE using high-tech equipment is the lingering visual impression of mining left by television images, but it is the activities within the boardroom that often precede and empower the successful mining operations around our country that fuel the economy and provide employment to many Australians.

Successful mining operations depend on successful liaison with a range of relevant government regulatory bodies, that vary from state to state. In a way, the entire prosperity and future success of a mining concern depend entirely on whether it can successfully, clearly, and effectively communicate with these mining regulators.

It is one thing for a corporation to be prepared to follow its tenement terms and conditions perfectly and to operate in a way that honours environmental compliance. It is quite another to ensure that the paperwork properly communicates these intentions, as well as your corporation’s capability of delivering on them.

The value of secure tenure

Insecure tenure of a mine site and mining operations has the capability of throwing an entire mining operation into doubt. Being fuelled by investment, a mining corporation needs to be able to convey to its investors its long-term viability.

This reaches down to all levels including the employees on the ground; we have seen before how rumours can have a huge impact on staff morale and staff retention. Employees also want a secure job that they can depend on in the future, as they will be building their life around this fact.

Most notably, though, secure tenure allows the mining corporation itself to proceed confidently. To invest a large number of resources and money into a mine site is a complicated business, and though objections and cessations of operations can sometimes be overcome through the expert services of mining lawyers such as Hetherington Legal, it is best to avoid this eventuality and to ensure everything is correctly calibrated in the first instance.

Experienced mining corporations will know that an investment in an experienced mining lawyer represents a potential saving in a huge amount of resources. Such investment also minimises the waste of human resources because a mining lawyer will be able to draw upon their intimate familiarity with Australian mining legislation across mineral exploration, mineral extraction, and other facets of mining, to advise on the plausibility of your applications and their likelihood of success.

Knowing what to do, when, and how

Here at Hetherington Legal, we are regularly asked questions that are straightforward to us, but unfamiliar to the mining corporation in question. This is a common experience and not one we are surprised by, because of the complexities that define Australian mining law and Australian mining regulation.

As mining lawyers, we specialise in our area, and you specialise in yours. We respect that and support you to do what you do best, by ensuring that you are receiving the best possible advice, representation and legal support across your projects from inception to completion.

We are regularly asked the following questions:

• Can I object to a new tenement application over my existing licence?
• What do I do if someone has objected to my tenement application?
• What is an application for forfeiture?
• What is a land access agreement?
• Do I need a heritage agreement?
• How to apply for a mining tenement in Western Australia?
• How to apply for a mining tenement in Queensland?
• How to apply for a mining tenement in Northern Territory?
• What to do if a Native Title Group has objected to my application?
• What environmental regulations does mining need to comply with?
• What legal considerations should I be aware of when it comes to my work health and safety?
• How do I establish a program of work that meet the requirements of regulators?
• Where can I find expert environmental consultants, mining lawyers, tenement management companies, and tenement consultants that are specialised, not generalised?
• How do I best manage my due diligence and VALMIN reporting requirements?

These are just some of the most common questions Hetherington is asked, but the list would be 1000s of questions long if we were to publish them all. Whatever the nature of the questions or concerns you have about local mining regulation, Hetherington Legal can provide answers, and further to this, can represent your company in liaising with the government.

Empower your mining operations by working with an expert Australian mining lawyer

A mining company’s point of contact with government regulatory bodies is essential. There are different timeframes, necessary submission deadlines, application windows, and paperwork for different aspects of your mining corporation that are easy to miss if you do not specialise in mining law. At best, this can compromise your likelihood of success or lead to penalties; at worst, it can signal long delays and potential mine closure.

Contact Hetherington today using our Contact Us page to ensure that you are effectively communicating with mining regulators at every step.