GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES ACT 2005

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

• 1 Purpose  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Objectives and principles  
• 4 Interpretation  
• 5 Meaning of geothermal energy exploration  
• 6 Meaning of geothermal energy extraction  
• 7 Act binds the Crown  
• 8 Relationship of this Act to certain other Acts  
• 9 Application of this Act to land in Victoria  
• 10 Non-application of Act  
• 11 Minister may exempt land from application of Act  
• 12 Geothermal energy is the property of the Crown  
• 13 Crown retains Crown land geothermal energy rights  
• 14 Offence to explore for geothermal energy unless authorised  
• 15 Offence to extract geothermal energy unless authorised  
• 16 Geothermal energy becomes the property of the person extracting it  

PART 2--EXPLORATION PERMITS

• 17 Rights conferred by exploration permit  

Division 2--Procedure for obtaining permits

• 18 Commencement of tender process  
• 19 Application for permits  
• 20 Chief factors to be considered in deciding competing applications  
• 20A Grant of exploration permit  
• 21 Notice to be given to applicants  
• 22 Minister may make new grant if former grant refused  
• 23 Procedure if tender does not result in the granting of a permit  
• 23A Priority of competing applications in respect of same land  
• 24 Restrictions on permit area  
• 25 Term of permit  

Division 3--Renewals

• 26 Renewal of permit  
• 27 Application for renewal  
• 28 Other factors to be considered in renewing permits  
• 29 Renewed permit area to be reduced  
• 30 Variation of work programs for renewed permits  

Division 4--Ministerial directions

• 31 Minister may give directions  

PART 3--RETENTION LEASES

• 32 Purpose of a retention lease  
• 33 Rights conferred by lease  
• 34 Right to apply for lease  
• 35 Details to be supplied with application  
• 36 Factors determining grant of application  
• 37 Restrictions on area to which lease applies  
• 38 Term of lease  
• 39 Procedure if lease not to be granted  
• 40 Minister may require review of commercial viability  
• 41 Minister may give directions if extraction viable  

PART 4--EXTRACTION LICENCES

• 42 Rights conferred by licence  

Division 2--Procedure for obtaining licence

• 43 Application for licence  
• 44 Commencement of tender process  
• 45 Application for licences  
• 46 Chief factors to be considered in deciding applications  
• 47 Notice to be given to applicants  

Division 3--General provisions

• 48 Minister may make new grant if former grant refused  
• 49 Restrictions on area to which licence applies  
• 50 Term of licence  

Division 4--Development plans

• 51 Geothermal energy extraction development plans  
• 52 Development plan to be lodged before extraction can start  
• 53 Development plan must be adhered to  
• 54 Minister may require variation of development plan  
• 55 Minister may permit variation of development plan  

PART 5--UNIT DEVELOPMENT

• 56 Unit development  
• 57 Minister may amend licence for unit development  

PART 5A--SPECIAL ACCESS AUTHORISATIONS

• 57A Special access authorisation  
• 57B Application for authorisation  
• 57C General criteria the Minister must consider  
• 57D Criteria that apply to permit, lease and licence areas  
• 57E Exception to section 57D  
• 57F Minister may vary area to which authorisation applies  
• 57G Authorisation does not give exclusive rights  
• 57H Term of authorisation  
• 57I Extension of term of authorisation  
• 57J Permit, lease or licence holder not liable for actions of authorisation holder  
• 57K Authorisation holder must give data to the Minister  
• 57L Authorisation holder must give data to permit, lease or licence holder  

PART 5B--SPECIAL DRILLING AUTHORISATIONS

• 57M Special drilling authorisation  
• 57N Application for special drilling authorisation  
• 57O General criteria the Minister must consider  
• 57P Criteria that apply to permit, lease and licence areas  
• 57Q Exception to section 57P  
• 57R Minister may vary area to which authorisation applies  
• 57S Authorisation does not give exclusive rights  
• 57T Term of authorisation  
• 57U Existing permit, lease or licence holder not liable for actions of authorisation holder  
• 57V Authorisation holder must give data to the Minister  
• 57W Authorisation holder must give data to permit, lease or licence holder  

PART 6--PROVISIONS APPLYING TO AUTHORITIES GENERALLY

• 58 Applications for authorities  
• 59 Applications are not transferable  
• 60 Existing permits and leases continue until renewal applications etc. decided  

Division 2--Requirements

• 61 Work programs  
• 61A Production operations also override planning schemes  
• 62 Planning permits  

Division 3--Conditions

• 63 Conditions that may apply to authorities  
• 63A Statutory condition of authority  
• 63C Further statutory condition of authority—agreements under Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010  
• 64 Minister may vary conditions unilaterally  
• 65 Minister may vary conditions by consent  
• 66 Variation of conditions on renewal, consolidation or transfer  
• 67 Suspension of conditions  
• 68 Term of authority may be extended if condition suspended  

Division 4--Transfers of authorities

• 69 Transfers  
• 69A Transfers in relation to special drilling authorisations  
• 70 Matters Minister must consider in assessing transfer application  
• 71 Execution of transfer document insufficient to create interest  
• 72 Partial transfers of permits and licences  

Division 5--Surrender or cancellation of authorities

• 73 Surrender of authority  
• 73A Partial surrender of authority  
• 74 Cancellation of authority  
• 74A Special drilling authorisation suspended or cancelled if primary authorisation suspended or cancelled  
• 74B Special drilling authorisation expires if primary authorisation expires  
• 75 Additional grounds for the cancellation or partial cancellation of extraction licence  
• 76 Procedure to be followed before authority cancelled  
• 77 Minister may give directions if an authority is surrendered or cancelled or expires  

Division 6--Consolidation of authorities

• 78 Consolidation of adjoining authorities  

Division 7--Nature of authorities

• 78A Authorities not personal property  

Division 8--Miscellaneous matters

• 78B Excision of area does not affect authority  
• 78C Expedited procedure for replacement of invalidated title  
• 78D Occupiers liability  

Division 9--Planning matters

• 78E Exploration under authority overrides planning schemes  
• 78F Amendments to planning schemes to facilitate exploration and extraction  

PART 7--REQUIREMENTS BEFORE OPERATIONS ALLOWED ON LAND

• 79 Operations on wilderness land barred  

Division 2--Operations requiring prior consent

• 80 Consent of Minister needed  
• 81 Geothermal energy operations on restricted Crown land  
• 82 Geothermal energy operations on water authority land  
• 83 Provisions applying to consents  
• 84 Right to seek review of refusal to give consent  

Division 3--Operations requiring notice

• 85 Operations on unrestricted Crown land  
• 86 Notice to be given before operation carried out on any land  

Division 4--Other matters

• 87 Areas of aboriginal significance  

PART 8--COMPENSATION

• 88 Requirements before operation starts  
• 89 What compensation is payable for—private land and native title interests  
• 90 Compensation not payable for geothermal energy  
• 91 What compensation is payable for—Crown land  
• 92 Limit on total amount of compensation  
• 93 Time limit on compensation claims  
• 94 Determination of disputes  
• 95 Determination of disputes—Crown land  

PART 9--OTHER OBLIGATIONS ABOUT CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS

• 96 Operation plan to be prepared  
• 97 Plan must be observed in carrying out operation  
• 98 Minister may permit variation of operation plan  

Division 2--Insurance

• 99 Insurance must be held  

Division 3--Rehabilitation bonds

• 100 Requirement to take out rehabilitation bond  
• 101 Minister may require increased rehabilitation bond  
• 102 Return of bond if rehabilitation satisfactory  

Division 4--Royalties

• 103 Liability for, and rate of, royalty  
• 104 Rate of royalty  
• 105 When royalty must be paid  
• 106 Minister may vary royalty  

Division 5--Other obligations

• 107 Maintenance etc. of property  
• 108 Authority holder must not interfere with other rights  

Division 6--Requirements at end of authority

• 109 Equipment must be removed once authority ceases  
• 110 Minister may remove equipment  

PART 10--REHABILITATION

• 111 Rehabilitation  
• 112 Minister may carry out rehabilitation  

PART 11--INFORMATION

• 113 Authority holder must provide information to Minister  
• 114 Minister may require person to provide information  
• 115 False information not to be given  

Division 2--Release of information

• 116 Meaning of release and information  
• 117 Meaning of interpretive information  
• 118 Information that is not to be released  
• 119 Information about applications that may be released  
• 120 Release of information about area that is no longer an authority area  
• 121 Release of factual information  
• 122 Minister may give information etc. to other Ministers  

PART 12--ENFORCEMENT

• 123 Authorisation of inspectors  
• 124 Production of identity card  
• 125 Monitoring compliance with this Act  
• 126 Emergencies  
• 127 Offence-related searches and seizures  
• 128 Occupier to be given copy of consent  
• 129 Disputed property in possession of inspector  
• 130 Search warrant  
• 131 Announcement before entry  
• 132 Copy of warrant to be given to occupier  
• 133 Receipt must be given for any thing seized  
• 134 Copies of certain seized things to be given  
• 135 Use of equipment to examine or process things  
• 136 Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises  
• 137 Compensation for damage  
• 138 Return of seized things  
• 139 Magistrates' Court may extend period  
• 140 Power of inspector to require information or documents  
• 141 Refusal or failure to comply with requirement  
• 142 Protection against self-incrimination  
• 143 Offence to obstruct inspector  

Division 2--Improvement and prohibition notices

• 144 Improvement notice  
• 145 Prohibition notice  
• 146 Right to review  
• 147 Defences to charge of failing to comply with a notice  

Division 3--Offences

• 148 Offences by corporations also offences by officers  
• 149 Offences by partners  
• 150 Offences by joint venturers  
• 151 Offences by employees and agents  

PART 13--ADMINISTRATION

• 152 Establishment of register  
• 153 Effect of registration  
• 154 Other documents to be registered  
• 155 Entries in register on devolution of title  
• 156 Registration  
• 157 Effect of registration  
• 158 Inspection of register and documents  
• 159 Minister's certificates  
• 160 Minister may make corrections to register  
• 161 Right to review of register entries  
• 162 Offences relating to the register  
• 163 Officials must not disclose information  

Division 2--Other administrative matters

• 164 Minister may require further information  
• 165 Form of documents  
• 166 Delegation  
• 166A Surveys and drilling operations  

Division 3--Fees and penalties

• 167 Applications not to be processed unless fee paid  
• 168 Fees and penalties debts due to the State  

PART 14--REGULATIONS

• 169 Regulations  

PART 15--AMENDMENTS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

• 175 Effect on existing authorities and activities  
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