The State Government is backing Queensland’s explorers with a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 survival package including relief on a range of costs and initiatives to spark new opportunities.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham described exploration as the lifeblood of the resources sector, one of the strongest-performing sectors of the economy during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The resources sector has weathered the COVID-19 storm better than most, which is good news for jobs,” he said.

“But many enterprises have had to put exploration activities on hold as a non-essential activity to reduce risks to their workforce and local communities.

“As well, many junior companies are having difficulty raising essential capital to meet exploration and holding costs.

“Our package will ensure exploration continues to identify the next wave of resources projects and jobs.”

The new support package includes:

• a 12-month waiver of rent on exploration land due between April 1 and September 1
• a freeze on fees and charges until 1 July 2021
• releasing almost 7000sq km of land for gas and mineral exploration this month
• bringing forward $2.8 million in grant funds for innovative exploration in the North West Minerals Province.

Coalfields tenements up for tender this week

A total of 108sq km near Moranbah will go to tender for coal exploration tomorrow (May 7) and a total of 6700sq km of land will go to tender for gas in central and south-west Queensland on May 14.

A total of $2.8 million in Collaborative Exploration Initiative grant funds have been brought forward to 2020-21 from a $13.8 million investment package announced late last year.

Explorers can apply for grants of up to $200,000 from today for new and innovative exploration activities. 

Dr Lynham said the tender and grant stimulus would provide exploration companies the opportunity to develop bids at their desks while they waited for the economy to recover, capital to become available and field work to resume.