The government has proposed a number of tweaks to the Crown Minerals Act.

The review of the CMA, which provides the framework for management and allocation of rights to Crown-owned minerals, is a key component of the government’s petroleum action plan.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today downplayed the scope of the proposed changes, to a regime which he described as “basically sound”.

“The proposed amendments to the Act are not extensive and do not represent any significant changes,” he said.

The Government has announced plans to open up 7000ha of conservation land for mining in a “discussion document” that also proposes adding 12,400ha to the conservation estate.

The move comes after a ‘stocktake’ of Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act last year.

It plans to investigate other areas not included in the stocktake because more technical data is needed.