From the Director General

As we approach the end of another financial year it is time again to welcome readers to another edition of the DMP eNews.

While Western Australia's international standing as a destination of choice for investment in the mining industry continues to improve, as indicated by the 2011-12 Fraser Institute survey results, the department continues to strive for improvement.

DMP recently reviewed its Strategic Plan, sharpening the agency's focus to 2014 and developing strategies relating to resources and dangerous goods legislation, the provision of geoscience information, improving approvals processes, continuing best practice in mining safety, new regulatory frameworks and, importantly in terms of attracting investment, promoting exploration in under-explored areas.

This edition of the DMP eNews explores many of the achievements of the department in these areas, including an overview of the efforts of senior staff promoting our resources industry to Europe and Canada.

The DMP eNews is a valuable tool for anyone interested in the future of the Western Australian mining and petroleum industry and provides updates on the latest activities of the department.

 

Richard Sellers

Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum

New reforms set to improve safety across industry

Miscellaneous amendments to dangerous goods safety regulations were gazetted on 1 April, as the first phase of a comprehensive regulatory reform program.

Some of the recent dangerous goods regulatory amendments include:

Information sheets about the amendments are available in the dangerous goods safety legislation and policy section on the Resources Safety website http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/6626.aspx

Other reform initiatives to come into effect progressively through 2012 will include a restructure and rationalisation of dangerous goods licence fees; extending licence terms for dangerous goods drivers and shotfirers to five years; and removing the requirement to inform the regulator when the responsible person for explosives and SRS security changes.

Reforming environmental regulation

With considerable reforms to resources safety and approvals already well underway, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is now ramping up its Reforming Environmental Regulation (RER) program.

Earlier in the year, the department hosted a workshop to consult with key industry groups and government agencies regarding the reforms.

Ongoing engagement with stakeholders will effectively guide the development of the specific details and actions of the RER program.

The department has released a communique to announce the commencement of the program and a commitment to the next stage of regulatory reform.

The communique foreshadows the establishment of the Ministerial Advisory Panel (MAP), which will formally include stakeholders in the RER program.

The panel will operate from June to December this year and identify and establish the scope and functions of working groups to progress essential reforms.

Specific reform workshops will be held for detailed input and collaboration on particular projects.

The establishment of an RER Implementation Team will also play an important role in implementing the reforms.

The detail of specific procedural, policy and legislative reforms required will be identified by February 2013.

The outcomes of the RER program will be an efficient and effective environmental regulator to ensure environmental practices in the resources industry reflect State and national standards.

The regulatory role of the department will continue to be within a State and Federal regulatory framework, which includes other environmental controls, such as through the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The RER program will help deliver greater certainty, confidence and clarity surrounding the department's environmental regulatory system for all stakeholders.

Importantly, the reforms will strengthen the enforcement capacity of the department.

In addition, the reforms will also introduce a new level of transparency to the environmental regulatory system within the department and full integration of a risk based regulatory approach.

The RER program will deliver timely, predictable and effective regulatory services.

The State, industry and the community will directly benefit from these reforms through more effective application of environmental standards within the industry, and a more responsive regulatory agency.

Petroleum safety reforms in full swing

The department wasted no time in the New Year, exacting some sweeping changes to safety services within WA's petroleum and geothermal energy sectors.

New levies were introduced on January 1 to cover the cost of such services, which were previously funded by the State Government.

Following extensive consultation, the move aims to lessen the increasing pressure on government resources, due to the rapid growth of these sectors.

The levies will ensure that funding available for safety services is maintained at an appropriate level.

In particular, they will enable the department's Resources Safety Division (RSD) to fund existing activities and expand services.

But new levies weren't the only change to take place in January; there was also a shake-up into how coastal waters are regulated in Western Australia.

The move saw RSD assume direct responsibility for safety regulation in this area, a duty previously carried out by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA).

Assets in these areas include:

A number of major subsea pipeline construction projects will also now be regulated by RSD- including Gorgon, Macedon, Wheatstone and Browse, in addition to the current involvement with facility construction.

Protecting the mining industry from fraud

To prevent fraud and protect title holders in Western Australia, the Department of Mines and Petroleum's has tightened requirements to ensure the integrity of the Mineral Titles Register.

Executive Director of Mineral Titles Dr Ivor Roberts said although there has been no previous fraudulent activity in Western Australia in regards to mineral titles, these new provisions will guarantee security for title holders in the State.

The Form 30- Application to Amend must be signed by the holder or applicant, their lawyer, or registered Power of Attorney (POA) on behalf of the holder or applicant.

"Modifications have been made to the procedure for amending particulars such as addresses and names," Dr Roberts said.

"Parties seeking amendments have until 20 April 2012 to satisfy the requirements."

"This procedural change was in response to a directive of the Mining Warden."

"The signatory must now provide adequate identification demonstrating their capacity to sign Form 30 by clearly printing their name and address, and in the case of a company, the position held.

This information will be required immediately beneath the signature."

Formal amendments to Form 30 must go through the parliamentary process. In the interim, holders or applicants are required to make the additions to the form manually.

A Form 30 signed under Power of Attorney must be accompanied by a copy of the Power of Attorney. A statutory declaration providing evidence of the reason for the amendment must also be lodged by the holder or applicant.

"The authorising officer must be satisfied from the evidence provided that the Form 30 is a legitimate amendment and is authorised by the tenement holder or applicant," Dr Roberts said.

"If the application does not comply with the requirements by this time, it will be rejected"

For more information on these policy amendments visit http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/1766.aspx or contact General Manager Tenure and Native Title Tony Bullen on 9222 3112 or tony.bullen@dmp.wa.gov.au.

GSWA Annual Review 2010-11 released

The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) Annual Review 2010-11 has recently been released and is available online.

The publication offers an extensive overview of mineral exploration in Western Australia, along with a review of programs, and the range of products and services that GSWA offers.

The annual review also covers major developments and mineral exploration highlights by commodity, drilling and mining tenement activity, and the successful Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).

The 2010-11 edition shows that the Western Australian economy, with its reliance on the mineral and petroleum sectors, continued to improve. In 2010-11, the value of mineral production in the State increased by a remarkable 45%, to a new record of $77.9 billion (excluding petroleum).

Iron ore, gold, and nickel, which collectively form the backbone of the Western Australian mineral sector, accounted for 90%, or $70 billion, of the value of minerals produced during the year.

Across Australia, mineral exploration expenditure in 2010-11 increased significantly to an all-time record of $2951.3 million (an increase of 28% in 2010-11 dollar terms).

Exploration expenditure for many commodities, including uranium, base metals, nickel, gold, and iron ore, also recovered from the negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09.

In Western Australia, the trend was similar, with mineral exploration expenditure rising during 2010-11 to an all-time record of $1590.1 million.

Over the year, GSWA staff produced 53 reports, records and other geoscience manuscripts, 12 series maps (1:100 000 and 1:250 000), eight other maps and 17 digital data packages.

There are now over 60,000 open file mineral exploration reports online.

For all the latest information go to the GSWA Annual Review 2010-11 here.

WA a top mining and exploration destination

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore

Western Australia's international standing as a destination of choice for investment in the mining industry has been further strengthened by the 2011-12 Fraser Institute survey results.

This year WA was among the top 20 mining jurisdictions in the world, with the State ranked equal eleventh out of 93 jurisdictions, up six places from last year in the internationally respected survey. WA's overall score was 81.5, equal with the Northern Territory.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said he was not surprised by the pleasing results, despite the recent progress of the Federal Government's mining and carbon taxes.

"WA's reputation as the nation's leading State when it comes to attracting exploration and mining has been solidified again, thanks to the hard work of the State Government and the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP)," Mr Moore said.

"The State Government's reforms to the approvals process have offered greater transparency and certainty for industry and this was reflected in the latest survey's results."

South Australia slid in its international rankings from 11th position last year to 19th spot with a score of 75.3 out of 100, while Queensland gained ten spots on last year to take 28th position with a score of 65.5, followed by Tasmania in 30th position and New South Wales in 32nd position. Victoria ranked lowest in 44th spot on the index with a score of 52.1.

In another category, Mineral Potential Assuming Current Regulation- Land Use Restrictions, the survey also ranked WA as the most attractive Australian jurisdiction for mineral potential.

"State Government initiatives such as the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) play an important role in demonstrating the potential for discovery of a wide range of mineral commodities," Mr Moore said.

To view the full survey results, please log onto: www.fraserinstitute.org

Site visit signals start of carbon capture and storage well drilling

DMP Coordinator Carbon Strategy Dominique Van Gent recently hosted a tour of the South West Hub Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project's first drill site on farmland near Harvey.

Drilling was completed on March 8 reaching a final depth of 2945 metres.

The visit involved more than 60 stakeholders, including DMP staff from Geological Survey, Mineral Titles, Environment, Petroleum, Finance and Communications, and showcased the 24 hour a day, 30 day drilling operation.

After years of research and analysis of existing data, drilling at the Hub's Harvey 1 Well will provide core samples and an array of electronic data for more detailed analysis.

The South West Hub Carbon Capture and Storage project, coordinated by DMP, is a leading initiative to provide knowledge on opportunities to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions in Western Australia.

"The Harvey 1 Well, is a stratigraphic well that will collect valuable data from deep below the earth's surface," said Dominique.

"The drilling program and following core analysis is a significant step forward for the project, and it was a great opportunity to allow stakeholders to view the proposed site and see a working drill rig in action.

"Throughout the drilling operation, essential core samples were collected for analysis. As no wells currently exist in the immediate area of interest, collection of data is important to acquire a sound understanding of the Lesueur Sandstone and the overlying Eneabba and Myalup Formations."

Core samples are cylindrical sections of rock taken as the well is being drilled.

The rock core is critical to the understanding of the geology beneath the land surface. From drill rig, to laboratory and core library it must be handled with care.

All analytical data is recorded and stored carefully to enable it to be used by researchers in the future.

"The samples will be analysed to determine the presence of a low permeability units in overlying shale that is abundant in the Eneabba and Myalup Formations, and the injectable capacity of the Lesueur Sandstone because of its permeability and capacity to permanently store carbon dioxide," he said.

These analyses will determine if the rocks can successfully trap the carbon dioxide, how much it will hold and at what rate the liquid carbon dioxide can be pumped into the formation.

About 250 metres of rock core from six different depths were collected and transferred to the Geological Survey's core store at Carlisle.

The first sample was collected at 900 metres, near the top Lesueur Sandstone. The second sample was collected at 1,350 metres, a mainly shale area in the upper Lesueur.

The final section of cores were collected in the injection target sandstone at 1,900 metres and 2,450 metres near the base of the Lesueur Sandstone.

The core will be inspected by geologists and scientists from DMP's Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Small sub-samples of the core will then be taken for further laboratory analysis.

Other important data obtained from geophysical logging of the drill well includes geothermal gradients- the rate of temperature change with depth, hydrocarbon and water bearing formations.

This valuable data will provide a more complete picture of the geology in the sub surface to test its capacity to trap carbon dioxide and the size of the potential storage site.

CCS, or carbon dioxide geosequestration, involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources before they are released into the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then liquefied, transported by pipeline and pumped deep below the ground for permanent storage.

The South West Hub Project has the potential to be Australia's first collaborative carbon capture and storage project. It is a joint industry and government partnership project involving DMP, Verve Energy, Griffin Energy, Wesfarmers Premier Coal, Alcoa Australia and Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Further information about CCS and the South West Hub Project is available at: (http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/9525.aspx).

For further inquiries regarding the drilling operations or core analysis, contact Dominique Van Gent on 9791 2045 or email Dominique.vangent@dmp.wa.gov.au

GSWA Harvey 1 creates new record

Total depth of 2,945m

The stratigraphic hole GSWA Harvey 1, near the south west town of Harvey, has set a record as the deepest hole the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has ever drilled.

At a total depth of 2,945 metres it is 927.5 metres deeper than the previous record hole, GSWA Vines 1 which drilled to 2,017.5 metres in the Officer Basin in 1999.

The well was spudded on February 6 and total depth reached on March 8, while wireline logging commenced on March 9.

Since the 1880's, the Geological Survey has drilled many wells and acquired other data to better understand the geology and mineral and petroleum potential of the State.

The jointly funded Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) and Commonwealth well has provided new data for the southern Perth Basin in investigating the possibilities for carbon dioxide storage for the SW Hub CCS Project, as well as determining the petroleum and geothermal potential for the area.

The coring and wireline logging program is one of the most sophisticated ever run in the State and will provide much needed data for the SW Hub Project as well as a better understanding of the geology of the southern Perth Basin.

This data will be processed and used by the Geological Survey, industry and research organisations like CSIRO, UWA and Curtin to build detailed models for the planning of further data acquisition in the area.

The well has attracted both national and international interest as an investigative well for carbon dioxide storage and placed Western Australia firmly on the map in this discipline.

Safety at top of department agenda

The Department of Mines and Petroleum(DMP) is currently in the midst of one of its largest recruitment campaigns in recent history, as part of a State-wide reform of safety regulation in the resources sector.

The goal is to ensure the department has the capacity to regulate the rapidly expanding resources industry well into the future.

In its latest campaign to recruit petroleum safety assessors, the department experienced a very positive response- receiving 226 applications for nine Perth-based positions.

The safety assessors, who signed their contracts last month, will be responsible for regulating occupational safety and health laws under WA petroleum legislation for onshore areas.

The assessors will support Petroleum Safety's new team based approach, for which three new team leaders were hired in December last year.

Another recruitment drive for petroleum safety and risk analyst positions is set to commence later this year.

Director General Richard Sellers said these recruitment drives were vital to maintaining high safety standards in an industry which is presently experiencing rapid growth.

"The department is committed to supporting the industry as it grows and this is just one way in which we are doing this," he said.

"It's all part of our approach to implement best practice regulation and permanently change the safety culture of industry members.

"It shows we are working hard to remain a robust regulator, but we need to remember that safety is the responsibility of the operator- all companies must provide safe workplaces in good repair."

The ongoing petroleum safety recruitment drive follows activity by the department's Resources Safety Division (RSD), which recruited an additional 25 mines safety inspectors during 2010-2011.

It also follows the introduction of the department's mine safety levy and the recent petroleum safety levy, which enables industry cost recovery for ongoing and future mines and petroleum safety programs.

Re-tuned focus for DMP

The department recently reviewed its Strategic Plan, sharpening the organisation's focus to 2014.

With a three-year focus that is updated annually, the plan outlines the department's overall strategy- guiding each division to identify and achieve different aims across all business areas.

This includes strategies relating to resources and dangerous goods regulation; the provision of geoscience information; approvals processes; best practice in mining safety; exploration in under-explored areas; and new regulatory frameworks.

In the recent review, two major changes were made the plan.

The first includes amendments to strategy 1.7, to further define the department's expectations when it comes to the department and operators gaining a 'social license to operate'.

"We offered a clearer definition of what a social license to operate actually means for us," DMP Director General Richard Sellers said, adding it meant increasing community confidence in the department's regulatory system or operator practices and projects.

"With this definition and strategy now set, staff members within each division will be able to have a clear idea about what their main aims should be in this space," Mr Sellers said.

"I expect each divisional plan to identify how community confidence in the department's regulatory system will be boosted."

The second change to the Strategic Plan includes the addition of a 'targeted strategy', to ensure the ongoing transfer of offshore waters' regulation from the State Government to Federal Government authorities is smooth.

"At the start of this year, the WA Government handed over regulatory control of all offshore waters to the Federal Government's National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA)- but we're still offering advice and support where required," Mr Sellers said.

"As such, the Strategic Plan now outlines how the department expects each division to play a role in this smooth transition, eliminating any negative impacts on industry."

With the renewed plan in place, stakeholders have given the department some positive feedback.

"The consultation showed us that our priorities are consistent with industry issues and that we are moving in the right direction," Mr Sellers said, noting the department was committed to annually reviewing the Strategic Plan, in order to proactively address issues and adapt to priority shifts.

"We will continue to review and evaluate the plan, to ensure it reflects State Government expectations and is aligned with the department's key role of supporting the growth of WA's resources industry," he said.

"This approach will maximise the long-term benefits to the WA community."

For further information on the Strategic Plan, please contact the Strategic Planning and Royalties Branch on 9222 3027, email strategic.planning@dmp.wa.gov.au or visit www.dmp.wa.gov.au/8494.aspx

GSWA increases 3D content and 4D interpretations

Images of the Musgrave Province 3D model, produced by Dr Alan Aitken at CET

Over the past 12 months significant advances have been made in increasing the 3D content of Geological Survey of WA (GSWA) products, a major objective of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).

Besides the deep seismic, magnetotelluric (MT), aeromagnetic and gravity surveys undertaken, GSWA has also built and began entering data into a mineral exploration drillhole database.

GSWA also commissioned advanced studies by the University of Western Australia's Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET).

The studies integrate new geochronology, isotopic information, structural geology and inverted MT, gravity and aeromagnetic data to produce 4D interpretations of the tectonic development of selected under-explored regions of the State.

These new innovations represent a sideways addition to GSWA's suite of products.

This typifies the growing breadth of GSWA's activities, which now extend into coal, geothermal energy, and CO2 geosequestration, as well as towards robust 3D and 4D interpretations of stable crystalline rocks under shallow regolith cover and thin sedimentary basins.

GSWA recognises that future major resource discoveries will be made at depth, and that our products and services must adapt to the changing needs of industry for quality 3D and 4D information.

New thesaurus resource for geoscience professionals

The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has developed a GeMPet thesaurus to provide geoscience professionals with a standardised to index information assets such as reports, maps, and digital datasets.

The need for standardised geoscience taxonomy is more important now than ever as the expansion of online information delivery has highlighted the necessity to use controlled indexing to identify and organise information effectively.

GeMPeT is designed to provide geoscience organisations with a ready-made taxonomy for this purpose.

GeMPeT has three types of relationships applied to each term:

GeMPeT does not include geographic, species, product or registered trade names. A selection of mineral names is included; however, the list is in no way exhaustive.

Organisations using GeMPeT should include additional names of this type as necessary.

To access GeMPet online, go to GeMPet.

GSWA's next project is to assess and implement an update to the content for the thesaurus.

Kate recommends CME secondment experience

Kate, centre, at a Corporate Fun Run.

DMP Environment Officer Kate Buckley recently completed a one year secondment at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) and strongly recommends the experience.

Her placement at CME involved six months each in the two directorates, with rotations into portfolios working as a project officer in the areas of infrastructure, economics and tax, land access and environment.

"As well as providing an industry perspective, the secondment also provided an insight into the role of government, the way in which these peak bodies can facilitate the exchange of information and the development of relationships between industry and government," Kate said.

"What I really enjoyed during the secondment was the varied work opportunities which included supervising contracts for research by consultants, and developing that research into the State Growth Outlook Report publication, and organising the subsequent launch event," she said.

Kate was involved in developing submissions on behalf of CME members across numerous topics and organising and attending committee meetings and working groups where industry members discuss current issues.

She also developed and attended speeches by the CEO and the directors which highlighted the large advocacy role of the CME in promoting the interests and

Kate said the secondment also demonstrated the broad range of issues that affect the resources industry in Western Australia, including:

Kate with the CME team.

DMP encourages staff secondments to industry organisations, with other recent secondments to AMEC.

DMP's Director General promotes WA resources investment potential to the world

Director General Richard Sellers at the DMP booth.

Promoting Western Australia's shale and tight gas potential to leading government and industry representatives was the main mission for Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) Director General Richard Sellers during a visit to London in March.

Mr Sellers was in London to attend the APPEX Expo and the Unconventional Gas Conference which provided an excellent audience to showcase WA's potential.

"I was able to provide an update on the massive growth occurring in WA, and the opportunities for investment, through presentations to more than 300 oil and gas executives, and meetings with major stakeholders."

Mr Sellers said WA's potential role in future world energy was underscored by its abundant potential shale gas and shale oil reserves.

The forum also provided an opportunity for views to be shared, including the implications of social licence issues, between regulators, peak bodies and companies.

"This was invaluable, and will assist the department as it continues to upgrade its legislation and regulations."

He also met with the British Government's Department of Energy and Climate Change to discuss oil and gas licensing and leases.

"Meetings with other key regulators from Ireland and the United Kingdom were useful as they allowed open discussion on the progression of the shale and tight gas industries, and the social licence issues that are emerging around these new gas plays," Mr Sellers said.

Updates on key issues in other jurisdictions would also assist DMP as it engages with stakeholders and the community, and develops appropriate approval processes.

"The ability to discuss fraccing, water and other shale gas related issues was important as it feeds into DMP's current processes designed to improve regulatory outcomes," Mr Sellers said.

One of the points highlighted was the role of shale gas in the world economy, possibly driving the USA out of recession through cheap energy.

In the USA, the cost of gas has reduced from $12 to $3 on shale gas production and many countries that previously were not importers of energy have large, predicted shale gas reserves, such as France and Poland.

The Unconventional Gas Conference allowed industry leaders to evaluate all forms of unconventional gas exploration and production in the UK, Europe and throughout the Southern Hemisphere, including Western Australia.

Mr Sellers conceded that Western Australia still had some way to go to get the European market to be fully aware of the State's shale and tight gas industries.

"That's why it is important to take the opportunity to promote our investment potential in these emerging resources to international audiences when we can," he said.

WA is committed to enhancing the regulatory regime that ensures responsible development of unconventional gas, while protecting the environment, groundwater resources and public health.

In 2011, an independent review of WA's regulatory framework concluded that current regulatory processes were stringent and supported by skilled and dedicated staff.

The review also recommended further strengthening of regulation, aimed at improving legal enforceability by developing new environmental and resource management regulations.

Spotlight on WA at world's largest exploration event

Team Australia: DMP Manager of Mineral Promotion Gaomai Trench and DMP Executive Director of Geological Survey Rick Rogerson (second and third from left) discuss strategies with representatives from Geosciences Australia and State and Territory Geological Survey teams.

Senior staff from the Department of Mines and Petroleum recently travelled to Canada for a leading global exploration conference.

Deputy Director General Strategic Policy Michelle Andrews attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) event in Toronto, along with Executive Director of Geological Survey Rick Rogerson and Manager of Mineral Promotion Gaomai Trench.

The conference, which attracted more than 30,000 attendees from 120 countries, allowed the department to promote and attract investment to the WA resources industry, particularly greenfields exploration in a time of rapidly changing exploration technology.

The department's staff members attended various presentations and technical sessions throughout the four-day event.

They offered policy and technical advice and answers to attendees at the West Australian desk in the Australian booth at the Trade Show, and observed a signicant increase in enquiries from service industries keen to access the WA market.

The department also co-hosted a half day seminar with the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies - focusing on WA's mineral industry and exploration opportunities.

Recognising the challenges ahead for the resources sector was the focus of many conference and workshop presentations. These included social licence to operate, transparency, community engagement by industry and environmental approvals.

Ms Andrews said the conference proved extremely valuable to the department.

"By attending the presentations, trade and investor booths, and meetings with investors, industry and government representatives - we have returned with a better understanding of the internationals drivers, trends and forecasts for the resources industry," she said.

"And that in turn helps the department prepare better for the future, improving the way we regulate and, therefore, the performance of the WA sector."

Ms Andrews said she was pleased DMP's regulation of the West Australian resources sector compared favourably with Canadian jurisdictions.

"Similar to WA, Canadian national and provincial governments have been focussed on approvals reforms for the past several years – improving timelines, removing red tape and strengthening accountability," she said.

"And my dealings with Canadian explorers and government officials at this conference gave me the confidence that Western Australia's regulatory reforms are in step and sometimes ahead of these jurisdictions.

"This is great, considering many Canadian jurisdictions are looked at as highly desirable resources investment locations."

Last month, the internationally respected Fraser Institute survey placed Western Australia and various Canadian provinces in the top 20 mining jurisdictions in the world.

Western Australia moved up six places from last year – ranking equal eleventh out of 93 jurisdictions – just ahead of Ontario in thirteenth spot.

WA shared the ranking as top performing Australian State with the Northern Territory in the survey's policy category.

Canadian provinces in the top 10 included New Brunswick, Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan.