Trialling of new computerised mapping system (A/Min)

The Goldfields will be the first mining area in Western Australia to preview a new system of presenting mining tenement information that is expected to give a significant boost to mineral exploration.

Acting Mines Minister Jim McGinty said the system, called Tengraph, was evolving from the computerisation of the State's 9,000 tenement maps.

On to these would be added topographic and land-tenure information which would be directly linked to a statistical data-base.

"The Government is delighted with the rapid progress being made by the Department of Mines in establishing this system," Mr McGinty said

"The early development of Tengraph was a high priority in an overall package of providing an improved service to the industry that has become the cornerstone of WA's economic wellbeing.

"This commitment resulted in the Government making a special allocation of $1.5 million to the Department of Mines to stimulate mining and petroleum exploration.

"I am pleased to say that all the projects progressed by this extra funding are well advanced and it is anticipated that the Tengraph system will be first installed in the Kalgoorlie Mining Registrar's office in early 1993."

Mr McGinty said that fully developed, Tengraph would enable the rapid identification of ground left available for exploration relative to existing tenements.

Where explorers once had to pour over a host of maps and plough through reams of data, Tengraph would make it possible to call up tenement and land tenure information virtually at the push of a button.

When statewide coverage was achieved in 1997 a 'seamless electronic map' would replace the current public plan and users would be able to obtain instantly the location of any tenement across the State.

In addition, Tengraph would access tenement details in a variety of permutations and provide certain title information such as ownership, survey details and area.

"The new electronic maps will also show a tenement's proximity to areas such as Aboriginal and conservation reserves," Mr McGinty said.

"This will help in resolving disputes in environmentally and culturally sensitive areas by expanding the amount of information available."

Mr McGinty said a series of free seminars would be held in Kalgoorlie on March 10 and 11 to enable the mining and exploration industry in the Goldfields region to view the system's progress to date. 

The seminars would also allow the Mines Department to gauge industry reaction and obtain comment and feedback.

The seminars would be held at the Western Mining Conference Centre, MacDonald Street, and there would be four sessions daily (8.30 am, 10.30 am, 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm) with a maximum of 12 people per session.

He said those wishing to attend should contact Mining Registrar Ross Collins, Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie (telephone 090 213 066, fax 090 912 428), by March 6.

Mr McGinty said that when fully operational, Tengraph would reduce significantly the time taken to record, display and appraise tenement applications and eliminate the problems associated with multiple maps.

Once placed in the system, data would be immediately and simultaneously accessible via workstations in Mines Department regional offices across the State.