Funding to expand Kalgoorlie core library
The WA Government last week announced $7 million in funding to expand the capacity of the Joe Lord Core Library in Kalgoorlie. The world-class facility stores core samples that contain valuable geoscientific information for exploration companies and others seeking new petroleum and mineral discoveries.
Researchers and explorers can inspect the samples and review results to reduce the technical and financial risk of exploration activities. The extension will provide better access, more space and improved facilities to view and analyse the drill cores.
The continued interest in the State Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme has resulted in the Kalgoorlie facility being close to capacity, with all of the current storage areas in use.
WA has two purpose-built drill core libraries, the Joe Lord facility and one in Perth.
Government grants fund education initiatives to combat underpayments
‘Getting Employment Right’ grants have been announced by the WA Government, designed to fund employer and employee organisations, including peak bodies, to undertake education initiatives on employment rights and obligations.
The 2019 Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia found one of the reasons for wage theft was a lack of understanding of employment entitlements and obligations.
The Inquiry recognised the important role employer and employee organisations can have in providing education at grassroots level, particularly in industries with a high incidence of wage theft, such as cafés and restaurants, contract cleaning and horticulture.
Employer and employee organisations will be directly invited to participate in the grants program.
For more information, visit https://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/wageline
Assistance for resources sector during COVID-19
The Mining Regulations 1981 has been amended by the WA Government to assist stakeholders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the revised regulations, tenement holders can now apply for expenditure exemptions if they are able to demonstrate that COVID-19 has affected their ability to meet their expenditure conditions.
The temporary amendments reduce the amount of time allowed for an objection to be lodged, from 35 days to 14 days, and all exemption applications will now be published online.
Guidelines have been developed to assist stakeholders through the new interim process and to ensure applications remain of a high-quality.
Providing clear guidance should also minimise the requests for additional information from the applicant.
Additionally, on Wednesday July 1, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety cut its assessment timeframes in half for exploration Programme of Work applications.
The new timeframe target for applications has been reduced from 30 to 15 business days.
For more information, visit https://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au
