Section 16
Application for panning licence
—
(1)
No person other than a natural person shall apply for a panning licence.
(2)
An application for a panning licence shall be made to the
Superintendent in the prescribed form.
(3)
No panning licence shall be granted in an area—
(a)
where the State Planning Authority has ordered closed to panning for minerals;
(b)
within any reserved land;
(c)
within any prospecting area without the written permission of the holder of the prospecting licence; or
(d)
within any alienated land, occupied land or mining land without the written permission of the owner or the lessee.
(4)
Upon receipt of an application under subsection (2), the
Superintendent may, after seeking the direction of the Director, grant or refuse to grant such a licence and his decision shall be final.
(5)
Where an application for a panning licence is granted, such licence shall be issued in Form A as set out in the Schedule, upon payment of the prescribed fee, and shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in it or as may be prescribed.
(6)
The Director shall have the power to close at any time any area which has not been ordered closed under subsection (3)(a) to panning for minerals, and report such closure to the Authority.