Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) Unless the Minister otherwise decides, whether before the grant of an exploration permit or during its term the area of the permit must be reduced—
(a) for a permit for a mineral other than coal—
(i) by 50% by the end of the first 2 years after the permit is granted; and
(ii) by a further 50% by the end of each subsequent year; or
(b) for a permit for coal—in the way and to the extent decided by the Minister when the permit is granted or renewed.
(1A) The reduction under subsection (1)(b) must not be greater than the extent to which a permit for other minerals must be reduced.
(2) The area remaining after the reduction must consist of whole sub-blocks.
(3) If the Minister so directs on reasonable grounds, the reduction of the area of land in respect of which a particular exploration permit applies may be more or less than that prescribed by subsection (1).
(4) At least 20 business days (or such shorter period as the Minister in the particular case allows) prior to the date when, pursuant to subsection (1), the area of land is to be reduced in respect of an exploration permit, the holder of the permit shall make a submission to the chief executive identifying the sub-blocks of land to which the holder desires the exploration permit to apply after that reduction.
(5) If a submission made in accordance with subsection (4) proposes a reduction of the area of land in respect of which the exploration permit applies which reduction complies with subsection (1), then on and from the date when the area of land is to be reduced, the exploration permit shall apply only in respect of the land specified in the submission.
(6) If a submission that is made for the purposes of subsection (4) is not made in accordance with subsection (4) or does not comply with subsection (1), then the Minister may determine as the Minister considers reasonable that an exploration permit shall apply on and from the date of the Minister's determination or the date when pursuant to subsection (1) the reduction should take effect, whichever is the later in respect of land specified in the Minister's determination, and on and from that date the exploration permit shall apply only in respect of that land.
(7) If the holder of an exploration permit fails to make a submission in accordance with subsection (4) the Minister may proceed as provided in subsection (6) or may cancel the exploration permit.
(8) Compensation is not payable for a reduction in the area covered by an exploration permit under this section.
(9) The chief executive must, within 5 business days after a reduction under this section takes effect, give the EPA administering authority written notice of the reduction.