Latest news with #IndustryRegulationandSafety
West Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Local government minister watching ToPH ‘closely' as council looks to pass budget before August deadline
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley says she will be watching the Town of Port Hedland council closely as it looks to squeeze in budget discussions just four days before the State-mandated deadline for the vital financial document. The local authority's August 27 ordinary council meeting could be a make-or-break affair because if councillors can't reach a consensus, they risk not making the August 31 deadline. 'As the minister for local government, I continue to monitor the issues at the Town of Port Hedland very closely,' Ms Beazley told the Telegraph this week. It strongly echos comments she made earlier this year when the controversial council was reduced to just five elected members after a string of resignations, when she said she had prepared the 'groundwork' to put the council into administration. After the resignation of Ambika Rebello in May, mayor Peter Carter had warned that the next meeting in June would be the 'turning point'. 'If the budget doesn't get passed — that's the trigger. That's when it'll be over,' he said then. 'It'll end up like it did in 2019, when I resigned as a councillor and one more pulled the pin and the whole lot was dissolved.' However, the budget item has since been pushed to later and later dates. A special meeting planned for this week was the latest in abandoned attempts to get the budget passed. While the council could apply to the minister for a deadline extension according to the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, the Town of Port Hedland was yet to make an application as of August 7. 'Local governments which fail to apply for an extension prior to the deadline are non-compliant but not in breach of the Local Government Act 1995,' a DLGIRS spokesperson said. 'However, any delays may impact on requirements to submit financial management statements to the Auditor General by 30 September 2025.' Mr Carter this week said he hoped councillors could still come together to pass the budget. 'We are all passionate about getting great outcomes for Hedland,' he said. 'Passing the budget will allow us to continue to build on our goals of increasing livability in Hedland and supporting our community to thrive.' It comes after continual controversy at the troubled council, with two councillors in the past two months having to apologise for breaching the Local Government Act, the council being appointed a commissioner in 2019, a defamation suit between Cr Camilo Blanco and Mr Carter ongoing, members passing controversial vaccine motions and Cr Adrian McRae praising Vladimir Putin on Russian TV.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Auric Mining starts site preparation for Munda gold mine's starter pit
Auric Mining has initiated the development of the Munda gold mine, located 5km from Widgiemooltha in Western Australia (WA), with the mobilisation of plant and equipment for the mine's starter pit. Mining at the starter pit is set to commence this week, with completion expected to take around six months. The WA Government's Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has approved the Munda starter pit mining proposal and mine closure plan. Site preparation activities are currently under way, including the survey mark-out of the pit crest, haul roads, waste dump, run-of-mine pads and site office. Auric has also secured a contract with MHM Contracting for the dry hire of the mining fleet, which will be operated by Auric's own personnel. The starter pit represents the initial phase of Auric's strategy to exploit the larger Munda Resources. Following the completion of the starter pit and a thorough analysis of the results, Auric plans to undertake pit optimisation and mine planning for an expanded pit at Munda. Based on the outcomes from the starter pit and subsequent planning, the company intends to mine a larger pit by mid to late 2026. Auric Mining managing director Mark English said: 'We are right on schedule and have mobilised all the necessary machinery and infrastructure. Earth works have commenced; we will begin mining in a few days. 'The project is another significant step, both in our ambition to become a substantial gold producer in the district, and to develop Munda to its full potential.' A comprehensive grade control programme has been completed over the starter pit area by Kalgoorlie-based Total Drilling Services. The programme involved 428 holes drilled for a total of 14,670m. The results have enabled mine geologists to delineate near-surface ore blocks ahead of the mining operations. As mining progresses and exposes new benches, further grade control drilling will be conducted on a 5m x 5m pattern. Auric Mining plans to extract 125,000 tonnes (t) of ore at a projected grade of 1.8 grams per tonne of gold and an all-in sustaining cost of A$2,635 ($1,656) per ounce. In February 2025, Auric Mining generated more than $105m in gold sales from stage one and two operations at the Jeffreys Find Gold Mine near Norseman, WA. "Auric Mining starts site preparation for Munda gold mine's starter pit" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA starts new authorisation process trial for low-impact mining activities
Western Australia (WA) has launched a trial aimed at evaluating a new authorisation process for low-impact mining activities in the state's mining sector. The eligible mining activity (EMA) framework will bring a 'significant' modification to the environmental assessment system within the mining industry. The government aims to simplify the approval process for eligible mining activities that present minimal environmental risk and do not take place in sensitive regions. This approach will ensure that such activities remain under a stringent regulatory framework, while increasing efficiency within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS). The trial is designed to reduce the workload for DEMIRS by allowing the department to focus on more impactful decisions. Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael said: 'The Cook Government remains committed to ensuring best-practice regulatory frameworks are in place to facilitate responsible resources development. 'While we are working hard to streamline mining approval processes, at no point will we compromise on environmental and social standards. 'I firmly believe these regulatory reforms for low-impact mining activities will boost mineral exploration across the State without impacting WA's robust environmental protections.' The trial is part of the Fast-Tracking Mining Approval reforms introduced in 2022 and is set to continue until the framework is fully implemented later this year. Throughout this period, the DEMIRS will review Programmes of Work under the Mining Act that satisfy the eligibility criteria within a single business day. The framework's evaluation follows an extensive eight-week public consultation conducted in 2024. Upon completion of the trial, tenement holders will be able to receive automatic authorisation for eligible mining activities after submitting a mandatory EMA notice, which will adhere to a standard set of prescribed requirements. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has supported the WA Government's announcement of the trial. AMEC acting CEO Neil van Drunen said: 'This trial will help realise more efficiencies for the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS). It will remove a significant amount of work the department currently undertakes and allow them to focus time and effort on decisions that deliver greater impact. 'This trial promises greater clarity and certainty for proponents to invest in new mineral exploration projects and will also free up departmental resources to prioritise compliance and more complex approvals.' "WA starts new authorisation process trial for low-impact mining activities" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
