Innovative web tool simplifies MRF compliance

• Calculator provides clarity for resources industry

• Encourages early rehabilitation

A new online calculator allows mining tenement holders to quickly estimate rehabilitation costs and whether they qualify for exemptions from Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) levies.

Announcing the innovation today, Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said it was in response to industry requests.

"Streamlining resources industry regulation has been at the heart of the MRF reforms," Mr Marmion said.

"This tool not only allows tenement holders to calculate the MRF levies payable at different levels of disturbance, it also shows how much can be saved by early rehabilitation.

"Tenements with rehabilitation liabilities less than $50,000 are not required to contribute to the MRF, which means many small prospectors and explorers will not have to pay levies at all, provided they rehabilitate disturbance as they go."

MRF levies are calculated at one per cent of the Rehabilitation Liability Estimate (RLE) on a tenement at an annual reporting date.

The new calculator allows tenement holders to enter individual activity types, for example roads or tailings storage facilities, or combine multiple activities into a single Mine Activity Type, and estimates the RLE using the information provided.

Tenement holders who use the new calculator must still submit their annual MRF disturbance report.

MRF reports for the 2014-15 reporting period must be submitted by June 30, 2015.

Fact File

• The online calculator can be accessed at http://dmp.wa.gov.au/19344.aspx

• The MRF now contains more than $33 million, with interest earned set to be used to rehabilitate abandoned mine sites

Minister's office - 6552 6800