South Australian Current Acts

MINING ACT 1971 - SECT 70

70—Forfeiture and transfer of mineral tenement

        (1)         This section applies in relation to—

            (a)         a mineral claim; or

            (b)         if the regulations so provide—an exploration licence; or

            (c)         a mining lease; or

            (d)         a retention lease.

        (2)         Subject to this section, the Warden's Court may, on application under this section, adjudge that a mineral tenement to which this section applies is liable to forfeiture and recommend to the Minister that the tenement be forfeited.

        (2a)         The regulations may—

            (a)         provide that an applicant must satisfy any prescribed requirements before an application may be made under this section; and

            (b)         provide that an applicant must be able to demonstrate any prescribed capability or other requirement as part of an application under this section; and

            (c)         provide that an application must be supported by any evidence of a kind prescribed by the regulations; and

            (d)         provide for limitations on, or exclusions from, an ability to make an application under this section; and

            (e)         provide for other matters associated with making an application under this section.

        (2b)         A recommendation may not be made by the Warden's Court under this section unless the Court is satisfied that 1 or more of the following have occurred in a material respect and that the matter is of sufficient gravity to justify the forfeiture of the mineral tenement:

            (a)         a breach of this Act or any regulation;

            (b)         without limiting paragraph (a)—

                  (i)         a breach of a term or condition of the tenement; or

                  (ii)         a breach of a program under Part 10A;

            (c)         undue damage to the environment in connection with any authorised operations carried out under the tenement;

            (d)         a failure to carry out activities associated with holding the relevant type of tenement within a reasonable time or to a reasonable extent.

        (3)         Where the Warden's Court has recommended the forfeiture of a mineral tenement—

            (a)         the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, forfeit the mineral tenement to the Crown; and

            (b)         the person on whose application the Court recommended forfeiture is then entitled to a transfer of the mineral tenement from the Crown for the balance of its term.

        (3a)         A right to the transfer of a mineral tenement under subsection (3)—

            (a)         does not arise in any circumstance prescribed by the regulations; and

            (b)         expires at the end of a period prescribed by the regulations.

        (4)         A transfer of a mineral tenement under subsection (3)(b) takes effect on publication of a notice of transfer in the Gazette.

        (4a)         After an application has been made under this section, the mineral tenement to which the application relates shall not be transferred or surrendered until the application has been determined.