Re Wilkins

Maxwell John Wilkins and Robert James Wilkins applied for a mining lease over a specified area for the purpose of mining for barium, calcite, clay, and gypsum. The application was lodged with the Mining Registrar and no objections were raised. The Judicial Registrar was required to decide if the application complied with the requirements of the Mineral Resources Act 1989, if the land was mineralised and the proposed operations appropriate, and if the applicants had the financial and technical capability to undertake the proposed mining operations. The Registrar found that the application complied with the Act, the land was mineralised and the proposed operations appropriate, and the applicants had the necessary financial and technical capabilities. The Registrar recommended that the mining lease be granted to the applicants for a term of 15 years.

The Judicial Registrar considered the evidence provided by the applicants and the Mining Registrar and found that the applicants had complied with the requirements of the Act. The area was generally known for the production of the minerals in question and the applicants proposed to mine the area with machinery and a mobile plant which is common practice in the area. The Registrar was satisfied that the applicants had the financial and technical capability to undertake the proposed mining operations. The Registrar found that there were no grounds to refuse the application and recommended that the mining lease be granted to the applicants for a term of 15 years. The Registrar dispensed with a hearing as the matter could be determined on the papers.