The NSW Government is calling for feedback on a new policy it claims will improve mining regulation in NSW.
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In a statement, the Department of Planning announced the Integrated Mining Policy (IMP) late Thursday afternoon.
The announcement of the policy comes as the number of community complaints and legal actions mount in relation to the alleged cumulative impact of spreading mine complexes close to towns and villages.
Set against this backdrop has been a rising chorus of concern from the mining industry over a lack of consistency in the state government's mining assessment process, said to be difficult to navigate and involving costly duplication.
The Department of Planning claims its proposed Integrated Mining Policy will:
- require mine applicants to show how they arrived at their preferred project design much earlier in the assessment process;
- provide one standardised set of Environmental Assessment Requirements for mining applications; and
- include clarification of government policies relating to voluntary land acquisition, biodiversity offsets, water regulation and impacts to endangered swamps.
The Department is calling for public comment from the community and industry on the proposed policy.
The first stage will exhibit:
- an overview of the Integrated Mining Policy;
- a new set of Environmental Assessment Requirements;
- a Swamp Offsets Policy; and
- Mine Application guidelines.
The public exhibition period will close on Thursday, July 9, 2015.
The second stage of consultation will involve the remaining IMP documents.
The Department of Planning said these documents will be made available in the coming months.
Documents can be viewed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition
