Lodge a mining proposal

A mining proposal must be submitted for written approval by the Executive Director of the Resource and Environmental Compliance Branch of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) prior to the commencement of mining operations.

As of 3 March 2020 all applications must be submitted either in accordance with Part 1 (risk and outcomes based) or Part 2 (small mining operations) of the Statutory Guidelines, which clarify the mandatory requirements for these applications. The 2020 Statutory Guidelines supersede the Guidelines for Mining Proposals in Western Australia (2006), Guidelines for Mining Proposals in Western Australia (2016) and Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans (2015). For further information please see the information sheet.

All mining proposals must include a Mine Closure Plan.  Please refer to Prepare a mine closure plan for more information.

Approved mining proposals will be made available to the public via the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) website. If a mining proposal includes confidential information e.g. commercially sensitive or intellectual property, this information should be removed from the main mining proposal document and submitted in a separate document that is clearly marked confidential. DMIRS will assess your mining proposal based on information within both documents, but will not make any confidential information publicly available provided it is clearly identified.

Mining proposals must be submitted electronically via EARS Online (Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System).

Approved mining proposals are made publicly available, view them via MINEDEX (Mines and minerals deposits)

Contacts

Mineral Environment Operations

Statutory documents

ProForma - Mining Proposal for Small Mining Operations - March 2020 - 491 Kb

ProForma as per the Statutory Guidelines for Mining Proposals – effective 3 March 2020 (word version)

ProForma - Mining Proposal for Small Mining Operations - March 2020 - 814 Kb

ProForma as per the Statutory Guidelines for Mining Proposals – effective 3 March 2020 (pdf version)

Statutory Guideline for Mining Proposals - March 2020 - 710 Kb

Mandatory form and content for Mining Proposals under the Mining Act 1978 effective 3 March 2020

Environment Group Site Details and Activity Details Form - 1054 Kb

Environmental group site details and activity details form

Policies

Environmental Objectives Policy for Mining - March 2020 - 223 Kb

Identifies environmental factors and objectives for decision making under the Mining Act 1978

Guidelines

2020 Mining Proposal Checklist - 1053 Kb

Checklist to assist with the preparation of a mining proposal

Mining Proposal Guidance - how to prepare in accordance with the Statutory Guidelines - March 2020 - 1535 Kb

Supporting guidance information to inform the preparation of Mining Proposals

Proforma for Notification of Minor Changes to a Mining Proposal - 1047 Kb

Proforma for notification of minor changes to a mining proposal.

Mining Proposal Scoping Document - 1058 Kb

Mining Proposal Scoping Document

Technical guidance

Guide to the preparation of a design report for tailings storage facilities (TSFs) – August 2015 - 473 Kb

This is the guide to the preparation of a design report for tailings storage facilities (TSFs)

Waste Rock Dumps - August 2021 - 239 Kb

This document outlines planning before and during construction to produce cost efficient and effective rehabilitation of waste rock dumps.

Care and Maintenance - September 2009 - 44 Kb

This document outlines the environmental obligations of mines in regards to care and maintenance.

Acid Mine Drainage - September 2009 - 318 Kb

This document outlines strategies available to prevent or mitigate the impact of acid mine drainage.

Fauna Egress Matting and Ramps - March 2012 - 1031 Kb

This document provides advice on how to construct fauna egress matting and ramps.

Guide to departmental requirements for the management and closure of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) - August 2015 - 337 Kb

This guide has been provided to assist tailings storage facilities (TSFs) designers and operators with preparing the required reports for managing a TSF.

Procedures

Environmental Application Administration Procedures - 383 Kb

Environmental Application Administration Procedures

More information

Sterilisation report / Backfilling Pits - Sterilisation Report  - This report must be completed where any resources are likely to be sterilised by backfilling and submitted to Geological Survey.

Mining Lease Applications
Hard copy Mining Proposals will not be accepted unless submitted in support of a Mining Lease Application (MLA) to the Resources Tenure.

Project Management Plans - Prior to commencment of mining operations, an approved project management plan (PMP) must be in place. See  What is a project management plan? for more information.