Western Australia (WA) has launched a trial aimed at evaluating a new authorisation process for low-impact mining activities in the state’s mining sector.

The eligible mining activity (EMA) framework will bring a “significant” modification to the environmental assessment system within the mining industry.

The government aims to simplify the approval process for eligible mining activities that present minimal environmental risk and do not take place in sensitive regions.

This approach will ensure that such activities remain under a stringent regulatory framework, while increasing efficiency within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).

The trial is designed to reduce the workload for DEMIRS by allowing the department to focus on more impactful decisions.

Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael said: “The Cook Government remains committed to ensuring best-practice regulatory frameworks are in place to facilitate responsible resources development.

“While we are working hard to streamline mining approval processes, at no point will we compromise on environmental and social standards.

“I firmly believe these regulatory reforms for low-impact mining activities will boost mineral exploration across the State without impacting WA’s robust environmental protections.”

The trial is part of the Fast-Tracking Mining Approval reforms introduced in 2022 and is set to continue until the framework is fully implemented later this year.

Throughout this period, the DEMIRS will review Programmes of Work under the Mining Act that satisfy the eligibility criteria within a single business day.

The framework's evaluation follows an extensive eight-week public consultation conducted in 2024.

Upon completion of the trial, tenement holders will be able to receive automatic authorisation for eligible mining activities after submitting a mandatory EMA notice, which will adhere to a standard set of prescribed requirements.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has supported the WA Government’s announcement of the trial.

AMEC acting CEO Neil van Drunen said: “This trial will help realise more efficiencies for the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS). It will remove a significant amount of work the department currently undertakes and allow them to focus time and effort on decisions that deliver greater impact.

“This trial promises greater clarity and certainty for proponents to invest in new mineral exploration projects and will also free up departmental resources to prioritise compliance and more complex approvals.”