A Special Prospecting Licence (SPL) may be obtained for gold and is limited to an area of 10 hectares, with applicants must have an interest in no more than 10 SPLs at the same time.
The area may be marked out in respect of land within an existing prospecting licence or exploration licence (viz. ‘the primary tenement’) that has been in force for longer than 12 months or may be marked out in respect of land within an existing mining lease, with the lease holder consent.
The licence may be granted on a prospecting or exploration licence if it is considered that activities could be carried on without undue detriment to the activities of the ‘primary tenement’ holder.
Other information and restrictions apply in respect of SPLs.
For more information download the document Special prospecting licence (for gold)