What is a private mine and how can they be cancelled?
Prior to the commencement of the Mining Act 1971 (“the Act”), the ownership of minerals was vested in the landowner. With the inception of the Act, the ownership of minerals was vested in the Crown. For a short period following the commencement of the Act, those persons who had previously owned the minerals in their land, and had commenced mining operations, were given the opportunity to apply for a private mine enabling them to retain control of those minerals and removing the requirement to obtain a mining lease to extract and sell minerals. Each private mine was declared by proclamation by the Governor and has no expiry date. The Governor may, also by proclamation, vary or revoke a declaration of a private mine. If you have grounds to prove that the whole or part of a private mine is not being efficiently or effectively operated, you may lodge an application with the Warden’s Court to revoke all or part of the mine. In the event that such an application is successful, the Warden wil
