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Workforce safety study delivers preliminary findings

Follows McGowan Government's response to sexual harassment and assault in WA’s mining sector.

A landmark study into mental health and workplace culture across Western Australia's mining sector has released two reports with its preliminary findings.

Curtin University’s Centre for Transformative Work Design is undertaking the four-year study to gather and evaluate data on sexual assault, harassment, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and emerging mine safety issues.

Funding to boost health and safety in WA’s mining industry

Funding worth nearly $1.2 million to strengthen responses to sexual harassment and respect on mine sites.

Government remains committed to building a workplace culture of respect and safety for women.

Funding forms part of the McGowan Government’s Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program.

Four new funding packages worth nearly $1.2 million are set to further strengthen the McGowan Government’s commitment to the safety of Western Australian mine workers.

Call for miners to join in research for new mine pit lakes

The ChemCentre is seeking to collaborate with mining companies to build a more comprehensive database of the water quality in Western Australia’s (WA) mine pit lakes.

The Mine Pit Lakes – their Characterisation and Assessment for In-Situ Metal Recovery Opportunities and Cost-Effective Environmental Management study is a three-year project led by ChemCentre in collaboration with the CSIRO, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).

Impressive fourth quarter for approvals performance

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DMIRS) latest approvals performance report shows the department met all of its key approval processes within target timelines.

Notable fourth quarter results included the department finalising 96 per cent of mineral exploration licence applications within the 65 business day target, up from 86 per cent in the first quarter. The time taken to finalise the exploration licences averaged 37 business days, down from 47.9 business days in the first quarter.

DMIRS to cut timeframes in half for exploration applications

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) will cut its assessment timeframes in half for exploration Programme of Work (PoW) applications from July 1, 2020.

The new timeframe means DMIRS will reduce its target for PoW applications for exploration activities from 30 to 15 business days.

DMIRS Director General David Smith said the new timeframes supported the State Government’s commitment to improve regulatory efficiency through its Diversify WA Economic Development Framework, and supports the Streamline WA initiative.

Sunset Clause annual release

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s annual release of mineral exploration reports will commence at the beginning of May.

Under Regulation 96(4) of the Mining Regulations 1981, also known as the Sunset Clause, mineral exploration reports that were submitted under Section 115A of the Mining Act 1978 and held by the department for five years may be released to the public.

Mineral Title applications and transactions during Christmas and New Year

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will close all its offices (Perth and Regional) from Wednesday 25 December 2019 to Wednesday 1 January 2020. Normal services will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020.

During this period special arrangements are being implemented to ensure the integrity of the priority provisions for tenement applications and renewals under the Mining Act 1978. These arrangements apply to over-the-counter and online transactions.

Tenement renewals:

WA mineral exploration activity records five-year high

  • WA mineral exploration activity on the rise
  • DMIRS continues to assess PoW applications within halved timeframe

Mineral exploration activity in Western Australia is on the rise after the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety recorded a five-year high in the number of Programme of Work (PoW) applications.

The department’s figures for July and August showed a record 63 per cent increase on the monthly average (195) for applications and processing in the last five years.

Call for Expressions of Interest to extract basic raw materials

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for potential sand extraction from within the Myalup juvenile pine plantation between Mandurah and Bunbury.

DMIRS’ Resources Tenure Acting Executive Director Tony Bullen said the proposed sand pits will only go ahead if suitable applicants are identified through the EOI process.

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