(1)  In this section –

Department means the department responsible, in relation to the administration of this Act, to the Minister to whom the administration of this Act is assigned;

relevant licence means an exploration licence, a special exploration licence or a retention licence.

(2)  As soon as practicable after a relevant licence ceases to be in force, the Director must ensure that a notice, specifying –

(a) that the licence has ceased to be in force on a date specified in the notice; and

(b) the area of land to which the licence related; and

(c) that applications may be made under this Act for a lease, or a licence, in relation to a mineral, or a category of minerals, to which the licence related, on or after the date specified for that purpose in the notice –

is published on a website of the Department, and remains on that website until at least the expiry of the date specified in accordance with paragraph (c) .

(3)  The date specified for the purposes of subsection (2)(c) in a notice in relation to a relevant licence is to be a day that is at least 2 months after the area of land to which the notice relates is no longer subject to the relevant licence.