Permitting

Permitting

Overview

The South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) implements a comprehensive permitting process, which requires the Company to provide:

  • full detail of the baseline environmental and social aspects;

  • conduct and document stakeholder consultation;

  • detail on the proposed mining operation from construction through to closure;

  • assessment of potential impacts;

  • detailed engineering and management controls to minimise or avoid potential impacts; and

  • a comprehensive monitoring regime along with actions that will be implemented should monitoring results trigger action prior to non-compliance being reached.

The permitting process also involves a number of other regulatory agencies to ensure all aspects are covered and all legislative requirements are met.

The primary approvals required for a mining operation to commence in South Australia are the Mining Lease Proposal and the Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation. A link to the South Australian DEM regulatory requirements is found at DEM Mining Regulation.

Mineral Lease

The Hillside Mining Lease Proposal was approved in 2013 and resulted in the granting of the Mineral Lease, an Extractive Minerals Lease and a Miscellaneous Purposes Licence in September 2014.

Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR)

The PEPR document details the design, engineering and management controls to be implemented to avoid or minimise the potential impacts and reduce risk, as well as providing the comprehensive monitoring program for the operation.

The PEPR was approved by the DEM in July 2020 and can be found here.

All regulatory documents related to the Hillside Copper Project are available on the DEM website: Hillside Project