DPI Update (Issue 52)
JOHN MITAS, General Manager Minerals and Extractive Operations reports on changes to regulations for Victoria’s mining industry.
THE “Code of Practice for Small Quarries” (the Code) has been made The Mineral Resources Development (Mining) Amendment Regulations 2002 were made on 30 June 2010. The resulting changes to the Mineral Resources Development Regulations 2002 are now in operation.
The changes include the introduction of specific work plan requirements and reporting requirements for declared mines. Mines that are deemed to pose a significant risk to public safety, the environment or infrastructure (due to geological or hydro geological factors) can now be ‘declared’ by the Minister under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (MRSDA).
Declared mines are subject to additional risk management obligations via the declared mine’s work plan. Declared mines are also subject to additional reporting requirements to manage any identified geotechnical or hydro geological risks, and must provide six monthly written reports to the Department Head, unless a different period is nominated.
Reporting requirements for all mines have also changed in relation to reportable events. Details of what constitutes a ‘reportable event’ are outlined in the new regulations. The Chief Inspector must now be advised if any ‘reportable events’ occur at worksites.
Initial reports must be made as soon as practicable after the event occurs, and a more detailed written report may be required at a later date.
The report must advise of the details of the event, the cause of the event, the steps taken to minimise the impact of the event and details of actions taken or proposed to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the event.
A levy has also been introduced for Latrobe Valley region coal mines. The prescribed Latrobe Valley region coal mines are the Loy Yang, Hazelwood and Yallourn mines.
References to occupational health and safety (OHS) have also been removed from the regulations, as OHS is now regulated by WorkSafe Victoria under specific OHS legislation and regulations.
The regulations now also prescribe the information to be contained in an area work plan schedule. This change has been made to support amendments to the MRSDA to streamline certain exploration approvals to work effectively with cultural heritage requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
Copies of the new regulations are available on the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website, www.legislation.vic.gov.au
The above article is an extract from the August 2010 DPI Newsletter and is available at the following link: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/earth-resources/whats-new/minerals-andextractive-operations-newsletter
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