Div 1Minister may explore renewable energy resources

Division 1—Minister may explore renewable energy resources 7—Minister may explore renewable energy resources (1) Subject to this section, the Minister or a person with the written authorisation of the Minister may, for the purposes of exploring renewable energy resources— (a) enter and remain on land with assistants, vehicles and equipment as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the exploration; and (b) explore and conduct tests on land; and (c) take, and remove from land, samples from the land; and (d) construct, install, operate, maintain or decommission infrastructure on land necessary for assessing the feasibility of generating renewable energy from a renewable energy resource; and (e) take photographs, audio or video recordings of land; and (f) undertake any other activities of a kind prescribed by the regulations. (2) At least 14 days before the Minister or an authorised person undertakes an activity on land under subsection (1), the Minister or authorised person (as the case may be) must give notice to the owner of land— (a) describing the area of land on which the activity will be undertaken; and (b) describing the activities proposed to be undertaken on the land. (3) The Minister or an authorised person need not comply with subsection (2) if it is not practical to do so. (4) A person exercising powers under this section must, at the request of a person, provide their identity card or other proof of their authority to exercise the powers conferred by this section.