Explorers warn land access goes with a mining-led recovery

Concerns have been expressed by a senior member of the mining industry that a lack of access to land will stymie the sector’s contribution to a recovering economy. The metals-rich north has been a hunting ground for Terra Search managing director and principal geologist Dr Simon Beams for more than 40 years. The region is experiencing an uplift in exploration brought on by the prolonged high gold price, elevated base metal prices and potential demand for critical metals. There are exploration permits over much of North Queensland in a shared-use arrangement which includes grazing and native title. Exploration represented an oasis for an economy lost in the desert, Mr Beams said. “Access to land does influence everything we do and that's my experience over 40 years of exploration,” said Mr Beams. “It's a lot harder to get out on the ground these days. Even though explorers pay a lot of money to the State Government for such a highrisk, regulated activity, access is not guaranteed. “We need mineral discoveries, especially if regions like North Queensland are to continue to generate new wealth. “For this reason, exploration which in the early stages is a non-invasive, low-impact activity, has to be among the highest priority land uses. “However, these days you find that most of the effort is actually expended just getting access.” Primary industry though agricultural and resource production had been major contributors throughout the pandemic, Mr Beams said. In order for these industries to play the increased role required for Queensland and Australia to recover from its current economic position, Government-induced impediments needed to be removed, he said. “New discoveries make the resources sector sustainable. The easiest way to make it unsustainable, is to stop exploration. “Anybody who thinks that this country is fully explored, doesn't really understand the geology and the mineralisation styles that are there. “There is still plenty to be found and it's a question of giving people the opportunity to go out and find it. “The disappointing thing is that fact that we haven't been able to go out and develop our full potential because we, as a state, have shot ourselves in the foot so many times particularly with the constraints on exploration.” Explorers respected the rights of native title and pastoral lease holders but Mr Beams said the system was stacked against explorers. “It’s not natural justice, that we actually end up with a legal process that is open-ended, un-costed and the explorer is the one who more or less has to foot the whole of the bill. “It doesn't pass the pub test and yet that's the current legislation in Queensland. And that has deleterious effects on explorers. “They are trying to negotiate in good faith, with rights that should be recognised. The State Government charges explorers a lot in Queensland just to obtain a permit. “You would think this would be accompanied by rights to explore , however it's almost like your rights are secondary to every other interest that wants to use the resource sector as an ATM. “The state and nation are crying out for the good news that major resource discoveries bring. Explorers want to make these discoveries so the nation can recover.”

Explorers warn land access goes with a mining-led recovery

Industry Queensland

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