Re North Queensland Metals Limited

North Queensland Metals Limited applied for a mining lease over land approximately 2.5 kilometres south-west of Herberton for the purpose of mining silver, copper, indium, lead, tin, zinc, tungsten, wolfram, scheelite, and constructing various facilities such as living quarters, pipelines, stockpile, tailings dam, road, treatment plant, and workshop, for a term of 21 years. The application was lodged on 24 October 2007 and objections were initially lodged by Noel and Denise Day and by Timothy Fisher and Rhonda Winger. However, all objections were subsequently withdrawn, with Noel Day and Denise Day withdrawing their objection on 25 March 2009, and Timothy Fisher and Rhonda Winger withdrawing theirs on 1 April 2009. The Judicial Registrar, Mr BR O’Connor, considered the application on the papers and dispensed with a hearing.

The court had to decide whether the application complied with the provisions of the Mineral Resources Act 1989, particularly the criteria specified in s.269(4). The Registrar considered various factors, including whether the land was mineralised, if there would be an acceptable level of development and utilisation of the mineral resources, if the size and shape of the land were appropriate, if the proposed term was suitable, if the applicant had the necessary financial and technical capabilities, if the applicant’s past performance was satisfactory, if the operations would cause any adverse environmental impacts, if the public right and interest would be prejudiced, and if there was any good reason for refusal. The Registrar also examined if the proposed mining operation was an appropriate land use considering the current and prospective uses of the land.

The Registrar was satisfied that the applicant had complied with the provisions of the Act, the land was mineralised, and there would be an acceptable level of development and utilisation of the mineral resources. The size and shape of the land, the proposed term, and the applicant's financial and technical capabilities were also deemed appropriate. The Registrar found no evidence to suggest any unsatisfactory past performance, adverse environmental impacts, prejudice to public rights and interests, or any good reason for refusal. The proposed mining operation was considered an appropriate land use.

The Registrar recommended to the Honourable the Minister for Mines and Energy that Mining Lease No. 20568 be granted over the whole of the application area for the purpose and term sought by the applicant. The Registrar ordered that the hearing of the application be dispensed with.

ORDER: 1. Hearing dispensed with. 2. The Registrar recommends to the Honourable the Minister for Mines and Energy that Mining Lease No. 20568 be granted over the whole of the application area for a term of 21 years.