The Queensland Government has announced the release of new land for coal exploration.
Seven areas of land are to be made available for non-cash tender. This is the first land release for coal competitive tendering since policy and legislative changes in March 2013 allowed for exploration permits to be allocated via tender as opposed to 'over-the-counter' applications.
Applicants will instead be assessed according to their proposed work program and the associated technical and financial capability to meet that work program. Potential tenderers will not be required to make a cash bid.
In adopting a non-cash tender process, there is greater opportunity for junior explorers to be granted the right to explore for coal, based largely on their work program.
The land being made available is located in the resource-rich Bowen Basin and comprises more than 1,292 square kilometres (or 407 sub-blocks).
Further information regarding each tender area in relation to the tender process, geology and land use constraints is available here.
Tenders must be lodged by 2:30pm Wednesday 5 March 2014.
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