Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 - SECT 2

Objectives

2. Objectives



(1) The objectives of this Act are-

   (a)  to encourage and facilitate exploration for minerals and foster the
        establishment and continuation of mining operations by providing for-

   (i)  an efficient and effective system for the granting of licences and
        other approvals; and

   (ii) a process for co-ordinating applications for related approvals; and

   (iii) an effective administrative structure for making decisions concerning
        the allocation of mineral resources for the benefit of the general
        public; and

   (iv) an economically efficient system of royalties, rentals, fees and
        charges; and

   (b)  to establish a legal framework aimed at ensuring that-

   (i)  mineral resources are developed in ways that minimise impacts on the
        environment; and

   (ii) consultation mechanisms are effective and appropriate access to
        information is provided; and

   (iii) land which has been mined is rehabilitated; and

   (iv) just compensation is paid for the use of private land; and

   (v)  conditions in licences and approvals are enforced; and

   (vi) dispute resolution procedures are effective; and

   (vii) the health and safety of people is protected in relation to work
        being done under a licence; and



   (c)  to recognise that the exploration for, and mining of, mineral
        resources must be carried out in a way that is not inconsistent with
        the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth and the
        Land Titles Validation Act 1994.

(2) For the purpose of achieving the objective of providing for a process for
co-ordinating applications for related approvals the Minister may-

   (a)  in respect of any project, convene meetings of representatives of
        relevant Ministers, municipal councils and other public bodies; or

   (b)  after consultation with each relevant Minister and subject to the
        provisions of any other Act, do anything else that is necessary or
        convenient to be done for or in connection with the achievement of
        that objective.