A joint administrative agreement has been entered by the Departments of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) and Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to share understanding for their environmental responsibilities and resource accesses including exploration and development activities around the State.
Announcing the initiative, the Departments said their agreement would lead to clarity in meeting their legislative obligations and responsibilities and facilitate the State’s economic, social and environmental objectives.
“It focuses on managing the outcomes of interactions between mineral, petroleum and geothermal resource exploration and development activities, and public reserves, native flora, fauna and ecological communities,” the Departments said.
Executive Director of Resource and Environmental Compliance at DMIRS, Karen Caple (pictured) said the agreement made clear that DMIRS was responsible for the regulation of mining, petroleum and geothermal energy activities in Western Australia and DBCA was responsible for managing and protecting the range of values of reserved lands and waters.
“The administrative agreement outlines a shared understanding for facilitating environmentally responsible and economically beneficial resource access, exploration and development activities in Western Australia,” Ms Caple said.
“It provides a framework to facilitate transparent, efficient and effective communication, interaction and administration between DMIRS and DBCA in our respective performance of legislative responsibilities,” she said.
Ms Caple said that in turn, this would facilitate high-quality decision-making for the benefit of the State and the community.
