Register Statement of Interest
Introduction
A company may establish its interest in an available area with the Exploration and Mining Division by submission of a "Statement of Interest" on the standard form. A Statement of Interest will normally relate to ground for which the company intends to make a formal application following evaluation or reconnaissance surveys. Surveys may only be of a regional nature. On registering a Statement of Interest with the Exploration and Mining Division, the reasons for such interest should be given. If the interest is based on the fact that the company is carrying out reconnaissance work, the results of this work should be included with any subsequent Prospecting Licence application (in so far as the results would be relevant to the application). These results will be treated as confidential until such time as the company agrees otherwise, and will be used only to assist the Exploration and Mining Division in making a recommendation on competing applications. A company which holds a current Prospecting Licence for certain minerals is deemed to have a standing Statement of Interest for all other minerals in that area. This Statement of Interest will remain valid for as long as the Prospecting Licence is held.
Entitlement
If a Prospecting Licence application is made for ground registered under the Statement of Interest, the registrant will be notified. No other details will be provided. It will then be open to that company to apply for a Prospecting Licence over the area(s) or part of the area (if open ground) covered by the Statement of Interest. Application must be made within two weeks of notification. Failure to reply by that date will be taken as a withdrawal of the Statement of Interest. If an application is made, the original applicant will be notified, and is entitled to submit a revised application. If the applications overlap, then they will be considered on their respective merits without regard to the fact that one application had been received prior to the other. It should be noted that more than one company may hold a Statement of Interest over a particular area; however, no action will be taken on these Statements of Interest until a formal application for a Prospecting Licence has been received.
Validity
A Statement of Interest will remain valid only until the subsequent revision of ground status, currently published on lst May and lst November each year. On publication the Statements of Interest will cease to be valid and may not be renewed unless exceptional circumstances are recognised by the Exploration and Mining Division and approved by prior agreement.
To register a Statement of interest please download, complete and return the application form below from the page linked below.
