Collection

Coal mining permits and licences

Details about the different coal mining permits and licences issued by the Coal Authority and how to apply for them.

Coal mining permits

You must get permission to enter, disturb or change coal mines or coal managed or owned by the Coal Authority that’s on your property.

This includes:

  • coal seams under your property
  • coal workings, such as existing mine tunnels
  • mine entrances

You need to get a permit if you want to:

  • cap the mine
  • fill the mine
  • drill boreholes through a coal seam
  • build over or near to the entrance to the mine

Coal mining licences

You will need a licence for coal mining operations or another consent for any activity which enters or passes through the Coal Authority’s property.

You will need a licence for:

  • surface coal mining
  • underground coal mining
  • underground coal gasification

It’s an offence to carry out coal mining operations without a licence.

Other activities which require our consent:

  • deep energy boreholes
  • exploitation of coal methane
  • exploration for coal
  • incidental coal which needs to be removed as part of a development
Published 16 January 2023