DPI Update (Issue 37)

Post Transfer of OHS Regulation

The DPI will continue to regulate the earth resources sector and to administer all the legislation. The key roles under this legislation were noted in the last newsletter.

MPR propose to accelerate preparation/delivery of advice, education/guidance material, particularly environmental and community information. Inspectors will have increased involvement in community issues with a focus on early identification of potential problems and intervention. Data collection and analysis will be upgraded to inform industry wide measures of environmental/community performance and target its own regulatory activities.

Other major initiatives include:

• The review and reform of work plan requirements undertaking a more objective and risk-based approach. Audits of older work plans and an implementation program to upgrade to reflect current standards will occur.
• A targeted audit of around 50 sites investigating fuel and lubricants management will commence in April.
• A pro-active compliance auditing program. DPI is currently reviewing the risk profile for all mine and quarry sites and have commenced the auditing program using draft audit tools developed. These tools will be refined and made available for industry to use.

John Mitas, Chief Inspector of Quarries

Extractive Audit Royalty Program

The DPI undertakes a Minerals and Petroleum Royalty Audit Program assessing various mining, extractive and petroleum royalties to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

The Audit program consists of a Desktop Audit and Site Visit Audit. The Desktop Audit is the initial assessment of annual returns ensuring accuracy in the calculation of royalty payable to the State. The Site Visit Audit proceeds the Desktop Audit, where a group of sites are selected to ensure the reported material extracted is accurate and subsequent due royalties have been applied correctly.

For the 2007/08 year, an audit program includes a selected group of extractive operations in the North West region of Victoria. Prior to the Site Visit Audit, the following information must be made available for the inspector on the day.

• Work plans; showing the original form of the land and the current extraction depths
• Proof of the volumes or weight of material extracted i.e. Survey report, sales dockets etc.
• Areas where crown land extraction has occurred

The extractive audit will occur in April auditing up to 24 sites. The length of the Site Visit audit should not be more than an hour provided that all relevant information is made available.

For further information contact Mr Cengiz Altinörs, Royalty Offi cer on 03 9658 4431.

Work Authority Applications

THE table below ‘Average Time frame of the Approval Process’ refers to those Work Authority Applications and Variations currently listed on the Department of Primary Industries’ database and provides the average time frame for the main stages of the approval process where:

• Not yet endorsed refers to a Work Authority which has been presented to DPI and has not been endorsed. It may be pending the applicant, DPI or other referral body.
• Endorsed, not approved refers to a Work Authority which is endorsed but not yet approved. These are often pending planning permits.
• Approved refers to a Work Authority which has been approved in the last six months and is ready to go. It includes planning approval.

All dates are taken from the date the first draft was presented to the current date except for approvals which are taken to the date of actual approval.

The graph above ‘Outstanding Applications’ reflects the total of all Work Authority applications yet to be approved and the date which the first draft was first presented.

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