The Competitive Allocation Pathway is designed to maximise the value of a suitable unallocated coal resource through a competitive process. The Department of Regional NSW’s (Regional NSW) Guideline for the Competitive Allocation of Coal (December 2020) sets out when the Competitive Allocation Pathway applies.

Gazetted Reserves which exclude mining and/or exploration operations. Specifically for use in the Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs areas.

The NSW Government has clearly identified areas where higher priority land uses mean that coal mining cannot occur. For the State Significant Development application SSD5156 - Rocky Hill area, the prohibition will apply to open cut mining only. Otherwise, within this area coal mining will be prohibited by State Environmental Planning Policy.

Survey Pegs used to mark out Mineral Claims in the Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs areas of NSW, Australia.

Pending mineral claims granted under Part 9, Division 4, Section 190 of the Mining Act 1992 No 29.

The government will consider releasing a limited number of new areas for coal exploration under the Strategic Release Framework for Coal and Petroleum Exploration. Under this Framework, the government may refer an area to the Advisory Body for Strategic Release (ABSR). If a coal exploration licence is granted, an operator is not permitted to access the land unless they have an access arrangement in place with the landholder. Release of an area for exploration is not a guarantee of mining. An operator would still need to obtain development consent under the planning framework.

In 1994 the Lightning Ridge Mining Board determined that the title ‘Preserved Fields’ would be applied to older mining areas which would not be returned to their previous land use, adopting less strict rehabilitation standards.

The NSW Government has ruled out considering a significant proportion of the state’s coal regions for proactive release under the Strategic Release Framework for Coal and Petroleum Exploration. In these mapped areas, new coal exploration can continue to occur directly adjacent to an existing coal title, if an exploration licence applicant meets approval requirements. If a coal exploration licence is granted, an operator is not permitted to access the land unless they have an access arrangement with the landholder. The grant of a coal exploration licence is not a guarantee of mining. An operator would still need to obtain development consent under the planning framework.

Location of opal fields in Lightning Ridge, NSW.

Identifies areas in the Lightning Ridge Mineral Claims District and White Cliffs Mineral Claims District where the Department has declared reserves over which mineral claims cannot be granted, or can only be granted provided that special conditions are met, as defined by Part 17, Division 2, Section 367 of the Mining Act 1992 No 29.