Programs for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR) and mine operation plans (MOP)
All mining operations are regulated through approved programs. Mining leases (MLs/EMLs) and miscellaneous purposes licences (MPLs) must be operated in accordance with an approved program for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR), while operations on a private mine must be in accordance with an approved mine operations plan (MOP).
When a ML or MPL is granted the tenement holder must submit a PEPR within the required timeframe specified in the lease conditions. Operations cannot commence until an approved PEPR is in place.
MOPs must be prepared in accordance with the regulatory guideline MG12: Mine operations plans:
PEPRs must be prepared in accordance with the relevant terms of reference:
- Terms of Reference 002 - Extractive mineral quarry PEPRs (PDF 444 KB)
- Terms of Reference 005 - Metallic and industrial mineral PEPRs (PDF 464 KB)
Further information on PEPRs and MOPs can be found on the Regulatory guidelines page of this website.
Approved programs
A list of PEPRs and MOPs approved in the last 12 months can be found in the table below.
| Program type | Approved program | Tenement holder or Operator | Tenement number | Commodity or Resource | Location | Approval date and letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEPR | Mindarie Sands Project - Mercunda Strandline | Murray Zircon Pty Ltd | MLs 6137, 6220, 6225, MPLs 77 and 79 | Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile, Leucoxene and Monazite | Approximately 150 km east of Adelaide in the Murray Mallee Region | 30/05/2024 |
| PEPR | Long Sand Pit | Longs Sands and Metal Pty. Ltd. | EML 6029 | Sand | Murray Bridge area | 16/05/2024 |
| PEPR | A & G Willson Earthmovers (SA) Pty Ltd | ML 6549 | Basalt | Approximately 11 km west of Kingscote | 23/04/2024 | |
| PEPR | Truro Quarry | Kara Resources Pty Ltd | EMLs 6408, 6518 | Quartzite | Approximately 5 km east of Truro | 05/04/2024 |
| PEPR | Kiroka Quarry | Robert Hagerstrom | EML 6259 | Limestone, Sand | Approximately 23 km south-southeast of Kingscote | 27/03/2024 |
| PEPR | Uley Graphite Mine | Quantum Graphite Operations Pty Ltd | ML 5561, ML 5562 | Graphite | Approximately 23 km southwest of Port Lincoln | 28/03/2024 |
| PEPR | Clinton Sand Pit | Clinton Quarries Pty Ltd | EML 5792, ML 6548 | Sand | Approximately 19 km southwest of Port Wakefield | 06/03/2024 |
| PEPR | Waikerie Sand | Clay & Mineral Sales Pty Ltd | ML 6544 | Sand | Approximately 10 km southwest of Waikerie | 27/02/2024 |
| PEPR/MOP | Ardrossan Dolomite Quarry | OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Limited | PM 291, MLs 4040, 4041, 4042, 4044, 4045, 4046, 5317, MPLs 46 and 132 | Dolomite | Ardrossan area | 01/02/2024 |
| MOP | Stirling North Quarry | Boral Resources (SA) Limited | PM 154 | Gravel | Approximately 5 km northeast of Stirling North | 20/12/2023 |
| PEPR | Honeymoon Uranium Mine | Boss Uranium Pty Ltd | ML 6109, MPLs 15 & 92 | Uranium Oxide | Approximately 90 km northeast of Olary | 18/12/2023 |
| PEPR | Four Mile Uranium Mine | Quasar Resources Pty Ltd | ML 6402 | Uranium Oxide | Approximately 115 km northeast of Leigh Creek | 23/11/2023 |
| MOP | Wistow Flagstone Quarry | Wistow Stone Quarries Pty Ltd | PM 194 | Meta-silt Stone | Approximately 10 km southeast of Mount Barker | 15/11/2023 |
| PEPR | Springvale Estate Sand Pit | Springvale Estates Pty. Ltd. | EML 5540 | Gravel, Sand | Approximately 2 km west of Mount Compass | 15/11/2023 |
| PEPR | Boxer Rd Quarry | A & G Willson Earthmovers (SA) Pty Ltd | EML 6549 | Basalt | Wisanger area, approximately 11km west of Kingscote | 8/11/2023 |
| PEPR | Snowtown Quarry | S.C. Heinrich & Co Pty Ltd | EML 6550 | Quartzite | Approximately 5 km northwest of Snowtown | 02/11/2023 |
| PEPR | Childs Pit | Steven John Childs | ML 6551 | Laterite Gravels | Kangaroo Island | 31/10/2023 |
| MOP | Mount Muirhead Quarry | Hard Rock Quarries SA Pty Ltd | PM 240 | Basalt | Approximately 6 km north-east of Millicent | 23/10/2023 |
| PEPR | Iron Knob Mining Area | OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (SIMEC) | ML1659, ML1660, MPL145 etc | Iron Ore (Haematite) | Approximately 50 km Northwest of Whyalla | 19/10/2023 |
| PEPR | Glenelg Dolomite Quarry | Graymont (NSW) Pty Ltd | ML 6523 | Dolomite and Limestone | Approximately 27 km south-east of Mount Gambier | 25/09/2023 |
| PEPR | YP Lime Sand | YP Lime Sand Pty Ltd | ML 6547 | Limestone | Approximately 50 km west-southwest of Minlaton | 19/09/2023 |
| PEPR | Lockett Pit | A & G Willson Earthmovers (SA) Pty Ltd | ML 6543 | Limestone and Lime Sand | Kangaroo Island | 19/09/2023 |
| PEPR | South Middleback Ranges | OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (SIMEC) | ML 2648, ML 2649, ML 2650 etc | Iron Ore (Hematite and Magnetite) | Middleback Ranges, southwest of Whyalla, Eyre Peninsula | |
| PEPR | Peucker's Quarry | Gambier Earth Movers Pty Ltd | ML 6528 | Limestone | Approximately 10 km east-northeast of Mount Gambier | 07/09/2023 |
| PEPR | Boxer Road Quarry | A & G Willson Earthmovers (SA) Pty Ltd | EML 6549 | Basalt | Kangaroo Island | 15/09/2023 |
| PEPR | Harlequin Dimension Stone Quarry | AustralAsian Granite Pty Ltd | EML 5793, MPL 109 | Calcrete and Industrial Minerals – Dimension Stone | 4 km northeast of Wallaroo | 28/08/2023 |
| PEPR | Jabuk Pit | Southern Contracting Group Pty Ltd | EML 6546 | Limestone | Located approximately 4 km west of Peake | 15/08/2023 |
| PEPR | Agricola Mining Dolomite Quarry | Agricola Mining Pty Ltd | ML 5779 | Dolomite | Approximately 8 km to the west of Mount Gambier | 10/08/2023 |
| PEPR | Little Sahara Lime Sand Pit | Osier Pty Ltd | ML 5497 | Lime Sand | Kangaroo Island | 27/07/2023 |
| PEPR | Wiltuunga Quarry (Bute) | Wiltunga Nominees Pty. Ltd. | ML 6535, EML 5702 | Dolomite and Sand | Bute | 22/06/2023 |
| PEPR | Maloneys Quarry | GDP Civil and Quarry Pty Ltd | EML 6540 | Limestone | Burrungule area, approximately 17 km west-northwest of Mount Gambier | 22/06/2023 |
| PEPR | Oraparinna Barite Mine | Sibelco Australia Ltd | ML 5691, MPL 40 and MPL 41 | Barite | Approximately 29 km south of Blinman | 02/06/2023 |
Note: All MOPs received prior to the implementation of the new Mining Act and regulations effective 1 January 2021 are listed for reference only, the associated documentation is not publicly accessible. MOPs received after 1 January 2021 are listed above inclusive of documentation.
Previously approved PEPRs can be accessed via the following:
- Georeference section of the South Australian Resources Information Gateway (SARIG)
- South Australia Mining Register
Change to a mining operation
If a change to existing operations or circumstances is proposed within an existing mining tenement, the tenement holder must submit a change in operations application in accordance with:
A list of change in operation approvals approved in the last 12 months can be found in the table below.
| Approved program | Tenement holder or Operator | Tenement number | Requested change | Location | Approval date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindarie Mineral Sands Project - Mercunda Strandline | Murray Zircon Pty Ltd | MLs 6137, 6220, 6220, MPLs 77, 79 | As a result of a slower ramp up and commissioning issues associated with Mercunda’s processing plant, mining including pre-stripping of topsoil, subsoil and overburden has progressed ahead of the processing production rate and expected clearing schedule. This has resulted in a larger than expected disturbance area open at any point in time. The scope of the proposed change is limited to the disturbance area and stockpile volumes through operations. The rehabilitation method remains as per that described in MPEPR2022/167. Whilst the rehabilitation method remains the same, the mine and rehabilitation plan and timing requires minor scheduling changes to accommodate variations in plant performance which is a key driver for the provision of rehabilitation material to enable backfilling of the pit. | Approximately 150 km east of Adelaide in the Murray Mallee Region | 17/05/2024 |
All associated documentation can be accessed via the South Australia Mining Register.
