The great majority of cases received during this reporting period were resolved in less
than two months. However, when necessary, on average, it took two to two and a half months
for the Office to receive the necessary documentation to proceed with an appeal/application and
a further two and a half months to hear and decide the matter.

The Office continues to enjoy a considerable overall settlement rate. The target was to
maintain its range of between 70 and 92%. The settlement rate was exceeded at 95%. It is
pointed out that even with many settlements, it is necessary for the Commissioner to make
statutory decisions.

For mining cases, within the 2010 calendar year, 98% of cases settled. The few which
did not, from previous years, can be described as labyrinthine, oftentimes taking years to reach
their conclusion and often involving more than one hearing and the issuance of a significant
number of interlocutory decisions before the final decision.