ntg-mono

Mineral exploration title: substantial disturbance activity

If you're planning substantial disturbance activities on an exploration licence that is located on a pastoral lease, you must negotiate a specific land access agreement with the pastoralist or land manager.

Get the flow diagram.

Stakeholder engagement – land access – substantial disturbance PDF (441.5 KB)

Mining management plan

You should begin consulting with the pastoralist or land manager in the early stages of developing the mining management plan (MMP) and forward a copy of the plan or section of the plan that includes:

  • a project overview – timing, activity etc
  • the stakeholder engagement information
  • land care plans – how to deal with weeds, erosion, water etc
  • access requirements for discussion and consideration by the pastoralist/land manager.

Agreement about access

While you are drafting the mining management plan, you must negotiate land access with the pastoralist/land manager and come to an agreement within 60 days of starting negotiations.

You must include proof of stakeholder engagement (including an access agreement) in the mining management plan. This agreement can vary from an email confirming a “hand shake type agreement” to a more detailed documented agreement.

If you cannot reach agreement within the 60 days, you must tell the department and the issue will be referred to a land access assessment panel.

Land access assessment panel

The land access assessment panel will comprise a quorum of four and be selected from a group of four Northern Territory (NT) government department chief executives and industry representatives from the NT Cattlemen's Association and the Association of Mining and Exploration.

The panel will review the relevant documents and make a recommendation about access arrangements to the department within 21 days.

The recommended arrangements will be included in your mining management plan if there is no other agreement.

If you or the pastoralist/land manager do not agree with the panel’s recommendation, the matter can be referred to the civil courts, however at that stage the assessment of the MMP will continue.

If the department considers that the MMP meets all of its requirements, an approval will be granted while civil action is pursued.

Notice of application

The form below applies to all applications. You must send it to each landowner identified as being affected by the application.

Approved form 24 notice of application DOCX (64.6 KB)
Approved form 24 notice of application PDF (698.7 KB)

Rights and obligations

Read about your rights and obligations.

Rights and obligations of a pastoral lease holder and an exploration license applicant or title holder DOC (110.5 KB)
Rights and obligations of a pastoral lease holder and an exploration license applicant or title holder  PDF (304.4 KB)

Engagement process

Flowchart outlining the engagement process with landowners/land managers when applying for a mineral exploration permit.

Pastoralist / land manager stakeholder engagement - land access - tenure grant PDF (588.9 KB)

General grant conditions of an exploration licence DOCX (53.7 KB)
General grant conditions of an exploration licence  PDF (548.9 KB)

Application for the grant of an exploration licence (native title affected land) PDF (738.5 KB)

Freehold landowners and the exploration licence application process PDF (49.6 KB)
Freehold landowners and the exploration licence application process DOCX (71.8 KB)

Disputes and objections

Flowchart for tribunal processes PDF (971.6 KB)

Flowchart for objections or submission for the grant of a mineral title PDF (769.8 KB)

Contact

If you have any questions, contact the mining teams.