New system boosts online mine approvals

The state government says its new electronic lodgement system for mining approvals has resulted in a significant increase in online applications.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said the latest data showed online tenement applications jumped from seven per cent to 26 per cent over the first quarter of 2011.

Mr Moore said the new system had made the mining approvals process more efficent.

Over the period, 92 per cent of the 570 exploration licences lodged were finalised within the timeline target and 96 per cent of programs of work were finalised within 30 business days.

Of the 72 petroleum environmental plans, 96 per cent were finalised within the timeline target while 75 per cent of petroleum wells were finalised within 40 business days.

The new lodgement system was launched in August last year and by March more programs of work were lodged online than on paper, Mr Moore said.

"Although industry exploration activity increased in the first quarter of 2011, reforms were implemented and consequently, flexibility and timeliness improved.

"Online submissions require a defined quality standard and higher quality submissions result in significantly less approval timelines.

"WA resources industry activity occurs mostly in regional and remote areas - so making lodgement processes more accessible to those areas has obviously made a big difference to mining companies."