Beckstar Pty Ltd [1999] QMW 14

20302MLA.MAR 1 IN THE WARDEN’S COURT OF QUEENSLAND HELD AT BRISBANE IN THE MATTER OF: APPLICATION UNDER PART 7 OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES ACT 1989 FOR A MINING LEASE (NUMBER 20302) IN THE MAREEBA DISTRICT BEFORE: MR F W WINDRIDGE, WARDEN APPLICANT: BECKSTAR PTY LTD. REPORT: The applicant (hereinafter referred to as the miner or applicant miner) seeks a mining lease under the provisions of part 7 of the Mineral Resources Act 1989 (hereinafter referred to as the MRA or the Act) for the purpose of mining for GOLD, and for the establishment of associated infrastructure namely LIVING QUARTERS, WORKSHOP and WATER SUPPLY. The application is for surface area of 14.71 hectares and is situated on LOT 5228 on PH1242, County of WARNER, Parish of PERMANA, being part of IMOOYA Holding and located about 145 Kilometres west of LAURA. Access is also through the same property. Power to grant such a lease is vested in the Governor-in-Council pursuant to section 234 of the Act after recommendation by the Minister. All minerals are the property of the Crown. The grant of a lease does not create any estate or interest in the land (s.10), although there is the power to determine title to land (s.363(5)). The landowner has no right of veto. The use of the land for the purposes nominated is a permitted use under [1999] QMW 14 -- 1 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 2 s.319 of the MRA. Any mining tenure is not subject to the provisions of the Integrated Planning Act, being exempt from the provisions of the Local Government Planning and Environment Act 1990 by virtue of s.319 (Part 8) of the MRA. The application was lodged at the Mining Registrar’s Office at MAREEBA on 24 March 1997. A certificate of application was issued on 8 SEPTEMBER 1997 (s.252 (1)) setting the last date for receipt of objections as 6 OCTOBER 1997 (s.252(2)). One objection was lodged pursuant to section 260(1) of the Act. However, this objection was withdrawn by the solicitor for the objector prior to the hearing. The hearing was held at Cairns Warden’s Court on 23 December 1998. The following matters have been taken into account and considered in making my recommendations. (s.269(4)). (a) Have the provisions of the Act been complied with? The material indicates that the Applicant company is an eligible person as defined in section 5 of the Act and is entitled to make the application under s.232 of the Act. The application area is not located on or forming part of any reserve. I find that the application is therefore not in respect of land over which, pursuant to s.238(1) of the MRA, a mining lease shall not be granted without the consent of another person or persons. There is no relevant permanent building or relevant feature on the land as defined in s.5 requiring the consent of any person (s.238(1)). At the time of marking out and lodging the application, the applicant was the holder of MINERAL DEVELOPMENT LICENCE 7566 (s.232(1)). A declaration of posting was lodged on 22 SEPTEMBER 1997 (s.252(9)), and service of documents was in accordance with s.399. -- 2 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 3 I am satisfied, on the material, including the uncontested information in the application form and the declaration of posting and advertising that all the provisions of the Act have been complied with or substantially complied with. (s.392). I find that I am satisfied that, (a) the provisions of the Act have been complied with, (b) there is no valid objection, and (c) the consent of any trustee or other person is not required. (b) Is the land mineralised or is the other purpose for which the lease is sought appropriate? I am satisfied that the resources sought are minerals (s.5), and that the proposed infrastructure is necessary to assist in the winning of those minerals. (s.234(1)). I accept the Applicant’s advice and I am satisfied on the information given that the purpose for which the lease is sought is appropriate. The application area is within an area that has produced gold in the past. Part of the area is disturbed by previous mining. The applicant is required to satisfy the Court that mineralisation exists, and I am so satisfied. (c) Will there be an acceptable level of development and utilisation of the resources within the area applied for? From documentation lodged with the application, I am satisfied the applicant has sufficient resources to progress development to an acceptable level. The applicant is mining on other leases in the area and is in the process of constructing a purpose built treatment plant. (d) Is the area sought an appropriate size and shape? There is nothing in the information supplied by the Applicant to suggest that the surface area of the land over which the mining lease is sought is not an appropriate size and -- 3 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 4 shape. The lease boundaries follow the mineralised strike zone except for those areas required for infrastructure purposes. There is no evidence of any conflict with the boundary of any other tenement and therefore the cost and delay of a survey would appear to be not warranted. (e) Is the term sought appropriate? The term of lease applied for is 21 years. I am satisfied that the term sought is appropriate and will allow for mining and rehabilitation to be completed. The applicant company appears to be committed to a long term presence in the area. The applicant has the option of renewal under s.286 of the Act, or surrender at an earlier date under s.309. (f) Has the Applicant the necessary financial and technical capabilities to carry on mining operations under the proposed mining lease? From the information supplied, I am satisfied the applicant has the necessary financial and technical capabilities or access to those resources to carry out the mining operation. Gold mining is basically an extractive industry utilising shallow open cuts and does not require extensive plant, processing equipment, or large injections of capital. The applicant has mined gold and other minerals for a number of years and in my opinion has the experience necessary to complete the mining operation. [Carr –v- Simnovec (1980) 26 SASR 263 at 268, and Pacminex –v- Aust. Nephrite Jade Mines (1974) 7 SASR 401 at 415]. (g) Has the past performance of the applicant been satisfactory? There is no material before me to suggest that the past performance of the Applicant has been unsatisfactory. The local Field Officer and Environmental Officer will be available to monitor performance and rehabilitation and report any breach of conditions. The Inspectorate should monitor the methods adopted for mining, ensuring that industry -- 4 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 5 standards are maintained and that all machinery is operated in a safe and competent manner by licensed persons. (h) Is there any disadvantage to the holder of or applicant for exploration permits or mineral development licences? The applicant was the holder of the relevant pre-requisite exploration title at the time of marking out. It does not appear that the holder of or applicant for any other exploration permit or mineral development licence has been affected. (i) Will the operations to be carried on under the proposed lease conform with sound land use management? The land appears to be used for low intensity grazing under favourable conditions, and it seems the proposed mining operation will cause no significant disturbance to stock or stock watering or management facilities. The general nature of the land is described as “flat” with spear grass. The land appears to be Class VII and will revert to Class VII after rehabilitation or Class VIII except where a water supply is created. There is no arable top soil. Rainfall is low. Stock fodder is generally of poor quality on the application area with little or no fodder in deficit rainfall years. Information has been supplied as to the Applicant’s site management proposals. The evidence leaves me with no reason to believe that the proposed mining operations do not conform with sound land use management. (j) Will there be adverse environmental effects caused by the proposed operation, and if so, the extent thereof? An Environmental Management Overview Strategy (EMOS) has been lodged with the Registrar and accepted under delegation, subject to any recommendation of this Court and any further requirement of the Minister. Ore extracted from this lease is to be treated at an existing treatment plant on ML 3010. -- 5 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 6 The proposed mining activity is in an isolated area away from human habitation. The mining will not have any deleterious effect on any river or creek system. Chemicals will not be used in the mining process. Due to low rainfall and the method of mining, erosion will not be a problem. There are no other environmental factors of significance which may be adversely effected by the operation which have not been addressed in the EMOS. (k) Will the public right and interest be prejudiced? No factors prejudicial to the public right and interest have been identified. It appears there are no endangered flora or fauna within the application area. There are no public utilities on or across the application area. There are no sites of historical interest or aboriginal significance within the area. If any such sites are identified, the EMOS can be amended to put forward specific site protection or site avoidance strategies. (l) Has any good reason been shown for a refusal to grant the mining lease? The economic viability of this project is a commercial decision of the applicant. When all other aspects of the application and the matters referred to in s.269 are taken into account, I am satisfied that the objects of s.2(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) will be attained if a mining lease is granted for the term recommended for the following reasons: ♦ A small scale operation is planned. ♦ It is unlikely that the land applied for is of any interest to a large scale miner with greater resources. ♦ The location of the proposed mining operation and the proposed method of mining is unlikely to cause environmental or public interest concerns about safety. ♦ A realistic security deposit, subject to EMOS discounts if appropriate will be imposed to guard against financial failure of the miner to ensure rehabilitation is completed. -- 6 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 7 ♦ The applicant appears to have sufficient experience in the industry to accurately assess the potential of the project. ♦ There is a market for the product and the project will provide employment. No person claiming any right or interest under native title has lodged an objection. In my view, no good reason has been shown for a refusal to grant the lease application (Carr –v- Simnovec, Pacminex –v- Aust Nephrite Jade Mines supra). (m) Is the proposed mining lease operation an appropriate land use, taking into consideration the current and prospective uses of the land? The material indicates that the land is currently used for grazing purposes and appears, on the evidence, to be suitable for no other use. In my view, there appears to be no risk of significant conflict between the current land use, or any prospective land use and the proposed mining operation. The proposed mining operation appears, on the evidence, an appropriate land use, taking into account the current and prospective uses of the land. GENERAL COMMENTS This recommendation is based on an assessment of the information supplied. Living quarters are to be of a temporary nature and removed during the rehabilitation phase. Any tailings or settlement dams are to be de-commissioned in the approved manner. Should there be any dispute over damage or loss, or should the miner depart from his plan of operations or EMOS and cause loss or damage or interruption to the management of the property not envisaged or not foreseen in the terms of the compensation agreement, the parties are at liberty to apply to the Court for a determination or award of damages, and if necessary, injunctive relief under the powers contained in s.363(6). -- 7 of 8 -- Warden’s Court of Queensland 13 January 1999 20302MLA.MAR 8 RECOMMENDATION: Upon consideration of all the matters set forth in s.269(4) of the Act, I recommend that the mining lease be granted over the whole of the application area for the purpose of mining for GOLD and the establishment of INFRASTRUCTURE namely LIVING QUARTERS, WORKSHOP AND WATER SUPPLY for a term of 21 YEARS (s.270(2)), subject to settlement of compensation between the miner and the landowner or a determination of compensation by this Court. Dated at BRISBANE this 13 th day of January 1999. F.W. WINDRIDGE MINING WARDEN  1999 -- 8 of 8 --