Queensland Numbered Acts Queensland Numbered ActsChapter 2 , part 1 , division 8 —
insert—
107AA Applying to amalgamate(1) The holder of an authority to prospect may apply to the Minister to amalgamate 2 or more potential commercial areas for the authority to prospect into a single potential commercial area for the authority to prospect (the
"amalgamated potential commercial area" ).(2) The holder can not make an application under subsection (1) if—(a) the holder has not complied with a provision of this Act; or(b) any of the following amounts is outstanding in relation to the authority to prospect—(i) annual rent;(ii) a civil penalty under section 76 for non-payment of annual rent;(iii) interest payable under section 588 on annual rent or a civil penalty;(iv) a royalty-related amount payable by the holder;(v) security required under section 488.
107AB Requirements for making application The application must—(a) be in the approved form; and(b) include a report for, or that includes, the proposed amalgamated potential commercial area that—(i) meets the requirements under section 231 for a commercial viability report; and(ii) is still relevant to the circumstances of the proposed amalgamated potential commercial area; and(c) include a proposed evaluation program for—(i) potential petroleum production or storage in the proposed amalgamated potential commercial area; and(ii) market opportunities for the potential petroleum production or storage mentioned in subparagraph (i); and(d) be accompanied by the fee prescribed by regulation.
107AC Deciding application(1) The Minister may declare the amalgamated potential commercial area for the authority to prospect only if satisfied the area is no more than is needed to cover the maximum extent of a natural underground reservoir identified in the report mentioned in section 107AB(b).(2) Also—(a) before deciding to declare the amalgamated potential commercial area for the authority to prospect, the Minister must decide whether to approve the proposed evaluation program for the amalgamated potential commercial area; and(b) the amalgamated potential commercial area can not be declared unless—(i) the proposed evaluation program for the amalgamated potential commercial area has been approved; and(ii) the Minister is satisfied the holder of the authority to prospect—(A) continues to satisfy the capability criteria that applied in relation to the authority; and(B) continues to satisfy any special criteria that applied in relation to the authority; and(C) has substantially complied with the conditions of the authority.(3) The Minister may, as a condition of declaring the amalgamated potential commercial area for the authority to prospect, require the applicant to give security or additional security for the authority to prospect, under section 488, within a stated reasonable period.(4) If the applicant does not comply with a requirement under subsection (3), the application may be refused.
107AD Term of declaration A declaration of an amalgamated potential commercial area for an authority to prospect continues in force for 15 years from the making of the latest of the declarations of the potential commercial areas for the authorities to prospect that have been amalgamated.
107AE Steps after deciding application(1) If the Minister decides to declare the amalgamated potential commercial area for the authority to prospect, the Minister must give the holder of the authority to prospect notice of—(a) the term of the declaration; and(b) the evaluation program approved for the amalgamated potential commercial area.(2) If the Minister decides to refuse to declare the amalgamated potential commercial area for the authority to prospect, the Minister must give the applicant an information notice for the decision.