Re Citigold

Citigold Corporation Limited applied for a mining lease under section 245 of the Mineral Resources Act 1989 to mine gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc over an area approximately 6 km south-east of Charters Towers. The application was made on 4 January 2008 and no objections were lodged before the closing date of 25 February 2008. The application was heard on the papers by BR O’Connor, Judicial Registrar. The legal issues included whether the applicant complied with the provisions of the Act, the appropriateness of the land applied for and its size and shape, the proposed term, the applicant's financial and technical capabilities, the applicant's past performance, potential impacts on existing exploration permits or mineral development licenses, the conformity of the operations to sound land use management, the potential environmental impacts, the effect on public rights and interests, and whether there was any good reason to refuse the grant of the mining lease. The Registrar concluded that the provisions of the Act had been complied with, the area was generally mineralised and of an appropriate size and shape, the proposed term was suitable, the applicant had the necessary financial and technical capabilities, and there were no satisfactory grounds for refusal. The Registrar recommended that the mining lease be granted for the purpose and term sought by the applicant. The Registrar ordered that the hearing be dispensed with and recommended to the Minister for Mines and Energy that the mining lease be granted.