Earth Resources Regulation has announced it is to defer the collection of rent and annual fees this year to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Victoria’s resources sector.
The Regulator said the collection of rent and annual fees for mining licences and quarries, around $3.5 million of revenue, would be delayed by six months to January 2021.
“In consultation with industry, all rents on exploration, mining, prospecting and retention licences under regulation 29 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990, and the annual fees for extractive industries work under regulation 16, are included,” the Regulator said.
“We are ready to expedite processes for quarries where there is a need to maintain a supply of critical materials, with priority given to critical infrastructure and bushfire recovery projects,” it said.
“Earth Resources Regulation will consider the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in its decision-making process for licence and work authority approvals, and for applications to vary licence and work authority conditions, such as expenditure requirements.”
The Regulator said further guidance to industry would be made available on evidence requirements.
“We will continue to consult with industry to understand the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and adjust our response where necessary,” it said.
