National Regulatory
Coverage.
Australia's state and territory mining frameworks differ significantly in legislative structure, regulatory culture, and departmental expectations. Sceptre Strategic operates across every Australian mining jurisdiction — tenement management, statutory reporting, regulatory approvals and compliance advisory.
Operational Foundation
Across the Full Cycle
Travis Sickerdick brings over two decades of operational tenement management experience across Australia's primary mining jurisdictions. His career has spanned the full cycle: the resource boom of the mid-2000s, the extended downturn, and the current critical minerals-driven resurgence reshaping how explorers and producers approach tenure strategy.
Having managed portfolios ranging from single-tenement early-stage explorers to multi-jurisdiction ASX-listed companies, Travis understands the operational pressures that drive decision-making, and the regulatory consequences when those pressures lead to shortcuts.
- Mar 2026 NSW Exploration Guideline updated: clarified APO pathway and rehabilitation cost estimate methodology.
- Jul 2025 WA DEMIRS restructured; DMPE (Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration) now administers the Mining Act 1978.
- 2024 QLD Environmental regulator rebranded to DETSI (Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation).
- 2021 SA Exploration Licence term extended to 18 years under the amended Mining Act 1971 framework.
Australian Mining Jurisdictions
Sceptre Strategic delivers tenement management, statutory reporting, regulatory approvals and compliance advisory across every Australian mining jurisdiction. Each state and territory is serviced under its own legislative framework and regulator.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mining Act 1978, administered by DMPE (Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration — formed 1 July 2025 from the restructure of DEMIRS). Covers the new EMA (Eligible Mining Activity) framework, MDCP (Mining Development and Closure Proposal) preparation, Resources Online lodgements, Approvals Statements, Programme of Works, and contaminated-site obligations administered by DWER (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation).
If your tenure is administered through Resources Online, the principal can act as your registered agent, draft and lodge your MDCP, and manage DWER interactions end-to-end.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mining Act 1971, administered by DEM (Department for Energy and Mining). Covers PEPR (Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation) for mining operations and EPEPR for exploration programmes under s 70B, MERS and SARIG lodgements, Woomera Prohibited Area approvals, Part 9B and Right to Negotiate pathways under Native Title, and the 18-year Exploration Licence expiry framework.
PEPRs for mining operations and EPEPRs for exploration are drafted, lodged and reviewed under s 70B of the Mining Act 1971 — including new-company 12-month EPEPRs and ongoing programmes.
Tenement management under the Mineral Titles Act 2010 (for title administration) and operational mining compliance under environmental (mining) licences issued under Part 5A of the Environment Protection Act 2019 (NT) (in force 1 July 2024, replacing the repealed Mining Management Act 2001), administered by the NT Department of Mining and Energy and the NT EPA. Covers Mineral Authorities Portal (MAP) lodgements, environmental (mining) licence applications and transitions of grandfathered Authorisations, remediation and acid mine drainage advisory, Legacy Mines Remediation Act 2023 obligations where applicable, and remote-operations compliance within the Resourcing the Territory framework.
Remote-operations compliance is handled end-to-end: environmental (mining) licence applications and transitions, annual reporting, contaminated-site notifications, Legacy Mines Remediation Act obligations, and acid mine drainage programmes.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 and the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014, administered by the Department of Resources. Covers MyMinesOnline lodgements, Environmental Authorities issued by DETSI (Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation), Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plans (PRCPs), and expenditure and reporting obligations.
PRCPs, Environmental Authority amendments with DETSI, and expenditure and technical reporting through MyMinesOnline are coordinated under one point of contact.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mining Act 1992, administered by NSW Resources and the NSW Resources Regulator. Covers MinView and NSW Resources Portal lodgements, APOs (Assessable Prospecting Operations) under the March 2026 Exploration Guideline, REFs (Reviews of Environmental Factors), EPBC Test of Significance assessments, and Work Program reporting.
APO preparation under the March 2026 Exploration Guideline, REFs, and Rehabilitation Cost Estimates are drafted and lodged via the NSW Resources Portal with the principal as registered agent.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (MRSDA), administered by ERR (Earth Resources Regulation) within DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action). Covers RAM lodgements, Work Plans and Work Plan variations, Statutory Endorsements, and rehabilitation bond management.
Work Plans, Work Plan variations and Statutory Endorsements are coordinated through ERR, with rehabilitation bond reviews handled alongside the annual compliance cycle.
Tenement management and compliance under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 (MRDA), administered by MRT (Mineral Resources Tasmania — a division of the Department of State Growth). Covers MRT portal lodgements, Exploration Licence and Retention Licence administration, Mining Lease applications, and the interface with EPA Tasmania for environmental approvals.
Exploration Licence, Retention Licence and Mining Lease applications are lodged via the MRT portal, with EPA Tasmania liaison handled where environmental approvals intersect.
"The compliance risk in an Australian mining project is not in the legislation. It is in the gap between what the legislation says and what the operation actually does."
— Travis Sickerdick, Principal
See how Sceptre operates across jurisdictions.
Our case studies and published insights show Sceptre's approach in practice — state regulator engagement, pastoral and heritage stakeholder work, tenement-access strategy, and statutory reporting across multiple Australian jurisdictions.