124Consolidation of adjoining authorities

124 Consolidation of adjoining authorities (1) In this section a reference to an authority does not include a reference to a special access authorisation. (2) This section applies if the same person holds 2 or more authorities of the same type and each of the authority areas has at least one common boundary with another of those authority areas. (3) The person may apply to the Minister to have a single authority of that type issued in respect of all of those authorities. (4) The Minister may grant an application if she or he is satisfied— (a) that the consolidation of the authorities will not affect the work programs being, or to be, conducted under each of the authorities in respect of which the application is made; and (b) that the consolidated authority area will form one continuous parcel of land. (5) An authority that is the result of the consolidation of 2 or more authorities expires on the earliest date any of the authorities that have been consolidated would have expired. (6) The Minister must not consolidate 2 or more exploration permits under this section into an exploration permit that has a permit area of more than 12 500 square kilometres.