THE WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) will halve the processing timeframes for exploration applications from 30 to 15 business days from July 1.
The new timeframe supports the State Government’s commitment to improve regulatory efficiency through its Diversify WA Economic Development Framework and the Streamline WA initiative.
This reduction in timeline also builds on the department’s strong results from its fourth quarter approvals performance reporting and its commitment to make the resources sector more efficient and effective.
DMIRS director-general David Smith said 98pc of Programme of Work (PoW) applications were finalised within target timeline in the 2019 December quarter.
“The Resources and Environmental Compliance Division’s efforts to improve our processes is a credit to everyone involved,” he said.
DMIRS received 2636 exploration applications in 2019, up 46pc from 1799 applications in 2016.
Resource explorers and prospectors are required to lodge a PoW application prior to using mechanised equipment for ground disturbance such as drills, clearing tracks and digging exploratory pits.
