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2024/2025 Fee/Rent changes
The Department for Energy and Mining will implement a small number of fee changes (outside the standard government indexation increases) to commence on 1 July 2024.
- More information on the 2024/2025 Fee/Rent changes
- Primary commodity changes
Fee schedule
Fees under the Mining Act and the Opal Mining Act for the 2024/2025 financial year can be found on the relevant fee schedules:
- Mining Act fees and charges schedule for the 2025/2026 financial year (PDF, 303.1 KB)
- Opal Mining fee notice for the 2024/2025 financial year (PDF, 203.6 KB)
Update - Fee for registration or removal of an agent or operator
From 1 July 2025, the fee for the registration and/or removal of an agent or operator no longer applies. In the 2024/2025 financial year, this fee was set at $280 per application.
The removal of this fee corresponds with the introduction of DEM’s new Mining and Exploration Regulation System (MERS). Recognising the administrative impact to stakeholders of this transactional fee and the impediment to timely and accurate contact information, DEM has removed the fee. Note that the obligation under the Mining Act to lodge applications for these dealings remains applicable.
Forms and templates
Forms and templates need to be completed for registration of a mineral claim, for lease and licence applications, and some other activities associated with a lease, licence or tenement.
Links to current forms, templates and online lodgement are available at:
PEPR, MOP and change in operations fee calculator
The fee calculator provides a guide to the fees required when submitting a PEPR for exploration or mining, or a MOP and for a change in operations application.
Searching the Mining Register
From 1 January 2021 there are no fees payable to undertake a search of the Mining Register.
Access to the Mining Register is available via the Mining Exploration and Regulation System (MERS)
Annual fees
The Mining Act requires that tenement holders pay lease and licence fees annually in advance.
In most instances, tenement holders can expect to receive their invoice the month prior to the anniversary date of their tenement. The anniversary date is the day and month that a tenement was granted.
For example:
ML 1234 was granted 17 January 1996
ML 1234’s anniversary date is 17 January
Annual Fees will typically be issued in December (~ mid-month)
Recently, DEM’s issuing of annual fees for exploration licences under renewal has been delayed until after the renewal application has been finalised, however this practice has now ceased. Annual fees will now continue to be issued irrespective of the renewal application being considered, which is consistent with DEM’s approach for production tenements (mining leases, miscellaneous purposes licences and retention licences).
DEM’s invoicing for tenements under renewal does not confer an expectation that the tenement will be renewed. Should the tenement not be renewed, the fees paid for that tenement will be refunded to the tenement holder. If the renewal application is withdrawn on, or after the anniversary date of the tenement, all invoiced fees will remain payable, and fees paid will not be refunded.
Invoices issued by DEM will be based on the tenement details (including area) as recorded in the Mining Register at the time of invoicing.
Surrender applications (including other changes in tenement area) and annual fees
Where an application for surrender has been lodged, the tenement holder remains responsible for the financial obligations relating to the tenement until the surrender is registered on the Mining Register.
DEM acknowledges that timeframes for finalising surrender applications can vary depending on various factors, for example, the complexity of the tenement’s operations (including length and extent of mining operations undertaken and location considerations).
The tables below clarify when invoices are issued, when payments are due and the circumstances in which refunds may be applicable.
In all circumstances, the application must be adequate and determined by DEM to be valid. Where an application is not considered valid, the lodgement date for any subsequent application will be applicable in determining DEM’s approach to annual invoicing.
Exploration licences
Aside from exceptional or extenuating circumstances, or where referenced below, surrender applications or regulatory processes that result in a change in area for exploration licences received from 1 July 2025 will not be considered for pro-rata refunds of annual fees paid in advance.
| Application type | Lodged | Approach |
| Full surrender | Prior to anniversary date | Unless determined otherwise due to the complexity of the surrender, the invoice will not be raised, or where raised is not payable. |
| Full surrender | After anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Partial surrender | Prior to anniversary date |
Where the invoice is not raised, invoicing will be delayed until the partial surrender is registered. Invoicing will then occur based on the reduced area. Where the invoice has been raised, once the area reduction is registered, a credit or refund will be applicable, calculated on the reduced area from the anniversary date. |
| Partial surrender | After anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Full or partial surrender application withdrawn | Prior to, or after anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Renewal application withdrawn | Prior to anniversary date | Invoice not raised, or where raised is not payable |
| Renewal application withdrawn | After anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
|
Non-voluntary area reductions Note: Area reductions resulting from non-compliance with the exploration licence expenditure section of the Act (30AAA) are not applications but result in a change in licence area. | Invoice payable in full |
Production leases and licences (including private mines)
| Application type | Lodged | Approach |
| Full surrender | +60 days prior to anniversary date | Unless determined otherwise due to the complexity of the surrender, the invoice will not be raised, or where raised is not payable. |
| Full surrender | <60 days prior to anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Partial surrender | +60 days prior to anniversary date |
Where the invoice is not raised, invoicing will be delayed until the partial surrender is registered. Invoicing will then occur based on the reduced area. Where the invoice has been raised, once the area reduction is registered, a credit or refund will be applicable, calculated on the reduced area from the anniversary date. |
| Partial surrender | <60 days prior to anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Full or partial surrender application withdrawn | Prior to, or after anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
| Renewal application withdrawn | Prior to anniversary date | Invoice not raised, or where raised is not payable |
| Renewal application withdrawn | After anniversary date | Invoice payable in full |
Frequently asked questions
Visit the frequently asked questions for more information about how the fee changes affect lease and licence applications, rent payable and PEPRs.
Contact us
MERS Support
MERS support team: DEM.MERSsupportteam@sa.gov.au
Webpage: https://mers.powerappsportals.com/KBArticle/?id=KA-01005
MERS support line: +61 8 8429 4450
Mineral Tenements
Mail:
GPO Box 618
Adelaide
South Australia 5001
Email:
DEM.Tenements@sa.gov.au
Phone:
+61 8 8463 3103
