The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) is calling for governments to work together to implement a process that avoids sterilising valuable resources as industries compete for land.
A new report released by Modifying Factors and commissioned by AMEC aims to demonstrate the competition for access, overlapping project footprints, and the duplication of approval processes.
Titled ‘Congested & Contested – Coexistence the key to unlocking productivity’, it reveals mounting tensions between exploration, mining and agriculture as well as a tidal wave of renewable energy projects as they compete for access to the same land.
“This is an emerging issue being replicated across Australia. It simply isn’t going away, and change is needed,” AMEC chief executive officer Warren Pearce said.
“Right now, we have many more competing uses for the land, no consistent rules, and established industries that provide the foundational base of our economy, forced to play second fiddle to rapid renewables expansion.
“It’s paralysing mining development, sterilising resources and it’s entirely avoidable.”
He said renewable entities could often bank large parcels of land with no guarantees of development. Yet, this could lock mining and agriculture out of qreas that could yield significant results.
“Our exploration and mining companies don’t have that luxury. If you’re not making progress, you lose your ground”, Mr Pearce said.
“It’s not about stopping renewables. It’s about making sure all projects, across all sectors, follow the same fair process, so we can get on with building a productive future.
“Our regional communities are wearing the brunt of a surge in renewables, and this back lash from the bush is starting to filter through to other industries.
“By bringing consultation requirements for renewables into line with the established mining and agricultural sector, we can build community support and learn to coexist.
“Otherwise, we risk sterilising resources, delaying the energy transition, and failing to maximise the productivity of our land.
“It’s time to level the playing field.
“And remember that renewables don’t provide ongoing jobs or lucrative royalties for years to follow. Instead, massive infrastructure across the landscape and profits that often go offshore.”
The report included five key recommendations (summarised):
