The Commonwealth Offshore Minerals Act 1994 regulates the exploration for, and the production of minerals other than petroleum over the continental shelf three nautical miles beyond the territorial baseline (generally the low water mark) of the States and Territories. The administration is shared between the Commonwealth and the States and the Northern Territory(NT). The Joint Authority consists of the relevant Commonwealth minister and the State/NT minister and is responsible for major decisions such as grants and refusals. The State/NT minister is called the Designated Authority and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Act.
Applications for a mineral exploration licence (MEL) are made to the Designated Authority. The initial term of a licence is four years and it may be renewed for up to three two year periods, subject to satisfactory performance of the licence conditions. There is a mandatory reduction of 50% of the licence area on renewal of an MEL.
To May 2009, a total of 82 offshore MEL applications had been received since February 1990. Currently there are two active licences, T-2-MRL (Mineral Retention Licence) and T-3-MEL, both in Ringarooma Bay in northeast Tasmania. The Mineral Retention Licence owner, Van Dieman Mines plc, was placed in administration in February 2009. Prior to being placed in administration, the company was investigating the viability of mining an offshore tin and sapphire deposit and operated an onshore alluvial mine at the Scotia tin deposit. Mineral Holdings Australia is exploring for similar minerals within T-3-MEL.
An Australian Offshore Minerals Locations Map that shows mineral occurrences and deposits within Australia's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf is available from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre. The Australian Offshore Mineral Locations data can be viewed online by using Geoscience Australia's Australian Marine Spatial Information System (AMSIS).
