Queensland Consolidated Acts

MINERAL RESOURCES ACT 1989 - SECT 148

148 Continuation of exploration permit if application for other tenure

(1) This section applies if—

(a) the holder of an exploration permit makes an application for the grant of any of the following resource authorities in relation to the whole or part of the area of the exploration permit—

(i) a mining claim;

(ii) a mining lease;

(iii) a mineral development licence; and

(b) the final term of the exploration permit ends before the day the application mentioned in paragraph (a) is decided.

(2) Despite the ending of the final term of the permit, the permit continues in force in relation to the area the subject of the application mentioned in subsection (1) (a) until the earliest of the following days—

(i) the day the grant of a resource authority mentioned in subsection (1) (a) takes effect;

(ii) the day the refusal of the application mentioned in subsection (1) (a) takes effect;

(iii) the day the application mentioned in subsection (1) (a) is withdrawn.

(3) The entitlements of the holder of the permit are not reduced or limited only because of the holder’s application for the resource authority mentioned in subsection (1) (a) .

(4) To remove any doubt, it is declared that rental is payable under section 138 in relation to any period an exploration permit continues in force under this section.

(5) In this section—

"final term" , of an exploration permit, means the term that ends 15 years after the grant of the permit.