Earlier in the year we reported on the release of the draft EMA Regulations.
The EMA Regulations were introduced under the Mining Amendment Act 2022, which passed Parliament in September 2022, with implementation of key features to come into effect at a later date.
Under the EMA Framework, an EMA notice will provide mining tenement holders with an alternative form of authorisation to undertake certain minimal ground disturbance activities, known as eligible mining activities. The Department has been trialling the framework, where Programme of Works that meet EMA criteria are assessed within one business day. This is a significant reform to the approvals processes.
The EMA framework is expected to come into effect on 9 September 2025, when the Mining Amendment Act 2022 comes into effect.