The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has launched a comprehensive toolkit to support Victorian mineral explorers and land owner/occupiers to negotiate access for exploration.
The AMEC Victoria Land Access Toolkit provides the support to ensure that exploration companies and landowners get off on the right foot at the beginning of a project.
AMEC chief executive officer Warren Pearce said with the many land users and activities in Victoria, it is important for industry to prioritise effective and regular community engagement with land owner/occupiers and build good working relationships between explorers and community.
“Most exploration is short term and low impact, and these documents help to explain the methods to land owner/occupiers to assist them when negotiating access arrangements,” Pearce said.
“The launch of the toolkit today reinforces the importance the minerals industry places on land access and AMEC’s investment in this important process.”
Victoria’s exploration sector is expected to grow in the coming years, as 11,000 square kilometres of land is released to the public in the state’s west.
The final stage of the Stavley land release process will open areas of the state to exploration for rare earths and copper for use in renewable energy such as wind turbine magnets and batteries.
Exploration projects across the state in gold, base metals, lithium and mineral sands generated over $200 million in investment for Victoria in 2021, an increase of 44 per cent on 2020.
Minerals Council of Australia executive director James Sorahan said exploration is critical to develop a pipeline of minerals projects which create high paying regional jobs for geologists, engineers, trades roles and drilling assistants and to help drive economic growth and diversity in regional communities.
“Explorers will have to apply for licences through the normal process and abide by the Exploration Code of Conduct and meet community expectations on consultation and environmental conditions,” he said.
The AMEC Toolkit includes a practical guide for industry, a streamlined access and compensation agreement template, fact sheets, and a video explaining exploration techniques and methods.
The toolkit was initiated and developed by AMEC in response to calls from industry for clear, up to date documentation.