Fees showdown for prospectors

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion says prospectors have overreacted to proposed changes to environmental administration fees, despite a partial backdown on their planned expansion.

Mr Marmion will "ease the burden" of planned fees for prospectors by making "low-impact" works exempt from the July 1 rollout.

The announcement follows weeks of unrest in Goldfields prospecting circles, with some operators claiming the mooted fees, which include a $6950 assessment fee for mining proposals and a $590 assessment fee for programs of work, will put them out of business.

But in what could be seen as a backdown because of industry pressure, the department will waive charges for exploration or prospecting work deemed "low impact" - mining activities which disturb less than 0.25ha and do not take place on land classified as a reserve.

Responding to criticism from local prospectors who last week vowed to "go to war" with the department over the fees, Mr Marmion was unequivocal: "I think they're overreacting".

"Rather than go to war why don't they come and have a chat," he said.

"I'm a reasonable person, if someone has a genuine gripe, and they think the 0.25ha should be different, they can show my department and they can assess that and give me advice.

"But it's just a minor adjustment and if the prospectors say 'this is ridiculous, Minister, that doesn't cover anybody', then I have to listen to them."

However, WA Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association president Mike Lucas said the Minister and department still had plenty of work left to do.

Mr Lucas described the 0.25ha exemption as ludicrous and ill-advised.

"What (the department) is saying is 'look at us, we're being heroes, we're going to give you an exemption for a piece of land you can barely put a toilet on'," he said.

"If they'd come in and said 'you can have 25ha', that's a different story. The Government needs money, they're looking for a way to find it."

Mr Marmion said the department had just weeks to nut out the finer details of the fee rollout if the scheme was to be presented to Parliament before June 30.

'The Government needs money, they're looking for a way to find it.'"WA Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association president *Mike Lucas *