Queensland uranium mining ‘open for business’ from July 2014

The Australian state of Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) has released an action plan to implement a best practice policy framework to recommence uranium mining in the state. The stated aim is to have all necessary work done for the government to be able to assess uranium mining proposals by July 2014. No legislative changes are considered necessary, and there is approximately A$10 billion (US$9.52 billion) worth of in-ground uranium resource in Queensland.

In our 20 March 2013 update, we reported on the key recommendations contained in the report of the Uranium Mining Implementation Committee, which was released on 18 March 2013. The Queensland government has since released its response to the committee’s report, on 12 September 2013, outlining the key actions it will take to introduce a best practice policy framework for the recommencement of uranium mining in Queensland. The government expects to have all the necessary guidelines and polices in place to commence the assessment of uranium mining applications by July 2014.

Key findings

The government has endorsed the committee’s key finding that the environmental issues arising from uranium mining are similar to other forms of metalliferous mining, including surface water impacts from tailings dams, groundwater impacts, land clearing and mine site rehabilitation. Given these similarities, the government’s position is that the existing principles and basis of the state’s legislative framework applicable to mining can be suitably applied to uranium activities, with minimal change.

John Briggs is a partner at Ashurst and the leader of the firm’s environment and development practice team in Brisbane. Michael Sheng is a partner at Ashurst in Shanghai