Access to land for exploration

Once you've been granted an exploration licence (EL) or extractive mineral exploration licence (EMEL), there are 2 levels of exploration activity you can carry out:

non-intrusive
substantial disturbance.

When to notify

If you're planning either of these activities on an EL or EMEL, you must notify all affected landowners at least 14 days before:

the planned access
starting activities.

This allows them to better understand the proposed activities and access requirements.

You need to provide notice every time you want to enter the property, unless you have come to a different arrangement with the landowner.

Notice of entry

The notice of entry must be in writing and include all of the following:

the name and contact details of the title holder
the name and contact details of the person who will be in charge of exploration work
what sort of exploration work will be done
when work will start, and how long it is likely to take
a map of the land to be explored, with its location and boundaries clearly marked
the place where the explorer plans to enter onto the land.

You may ask the landowner to provide information about any of the following: