After section 40 of the Principal Act , the following sections are inserted in Division 1:

40A.     Alteration of application, &c., before notice published

(1)  A person who has applied for a licence may, by notice to the Director, alter –

(a) the application for the licence; or

(b) the statement accompanying, in accordance with section 38(2)(c) or (e) , the application for the licence.

(2)  The alterations to an application for a licence that may be specified in a notice under subsection (1) include, but are not limited to including, alterations of –

(a) the minerals, or the category of minerals, in respect of which the application is made; and

(b) the area of land in respect of which the licence is sought.

(3)  A notice may only be given to the Director under subsection (1) before notice of the application is published under section 39(2)(b) (including publication of such a notice in accordance with section 41(2)(a) ).

(4)  An application altered under subsection (1) is, as so altered, to be taken to be the application as lodged under section 38 .

40B.     Alteration of application after objection

(1)  If the Mining Tribunal upholds an objection relating to a part of the land in respect of which an application for a licence is made, it may allow the applicant to alter the application by excluding that part.

(2)  An application for a licence altered under subsection (1) is, as so altered, to be taken to be the application as lodged under section 38 .