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.Ener
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.
“For example, the government is not proposing to nationalise any new minerals.”
The raft of changes, released in a discussion paper today, is designed to update, streamline and future-proof the CMA.
Proposed changes include:
- giving the CMA a clear purpose statement;
- improving management of non-compliance, particularly for decommissioning;
- optimising data requirements and disclosure obligations;
- giving the Minister more discretion over permit duration and reserving land and minerals from allocation;
- removing royalties provisions from the minerals programmes included in the CMA and placing them in regulations to the CMA;
- the addition of certain new technologies, resources and activities, including underground coal gasification and methane hydrates;
- the consideration of new permit classes;
- that permits will no longer be required for small-scale gold activities in waterways;
- reduced numbers of operative minerals programmes; and
- simplifying permit transfers and dealings.
“Of late there has been a great deal of public interest in the way in which the government manages the petroleum and minerals estates,” Mr Brownlee said.
“This consultation round provides interested parties with an opportunity to have their input into the future direction of legislation that governs permitting activity.”
Feedback on the paper is sought by Friday 8 October 2010.
