by Stephanie Peatling, Environment Reporter

Reprinted from Sydney Morning Herald, January 20, 2005


Lightning Ridge and its opal mining industry will die out unless more than 1500 square kilometres of land is opened up for prospecting.

But the State Government must choose between the future of the $35 million industry and warnings that the new prospecting area is riddled with environmentally sensitive areas and sites sacred to indigenous peoples.

A draft report on the possibility of allowing prospecting on the new section of land, being considered by the Department of Primary Industries and Mineral Resources, warns that there are no adequate safeguards in place to protect sensitive areas if prospecting goes ahead.

"This landscape is dependent on the mythology of the Ularai and surrounding language clans, the fossil record, the natural vegetation and landscape," the report said. "Evidence of Aboriginal occupation is present in all these ecological zones, be it through either the physical evidence of relics or the spiritual evidence of remembrance of myth and dreaming stories."

There are three areas where prospecting and mining for opals is allowed around the north-west NSW town of Lightning Ridge, the world's best source of black opals.

But local operators fear the resource is running out. The secretary manager of the Lightning Ridge Miners Association, Maxine O'Brien, said it was vital for the new area to be made available to keep the town alive.

"It's the second largest town in the Western Division and there's only one reason why we are here, and that's opals," Ms O'Brien said. "It's pretty urgent to get more country opened up. There's been a lot of exploration and work done over the past 100 years."

Opal mining already occurs in three areas around the town, covering about 5000 square kilometres. Although 6000 mineral claims exist, only between 500 and 800 are regularly mined; another 2000 are mined on a casual basis.

The proposed new area covers 1600 square kilometres and will be the subject of an inquiry later this year.

The proposal has dismayed some traditional land owners, who say there are significant cultural and sacred sites that mining could disturb.

Of particular concern is any opening up of an area near Narran Lake, where a dreaming track runs along a ridge line.

A cultural heritage assessment of the area has found the area significant for its "natural, palaeontological, Aboriginal, archaeological and historic values". Because the area is so vast, it has never been surveyed to see what is there.

"The existence of the cultural landscape of opal mining today is very much based on practices that have had a detrimental impact on Aboriginal cultural sites and places," the assessment said.

A spokeswoman for the Minister for Mineral Resources, Kerry Hickey, said Aboriginal representatives had been consulted about the possible expansion of mining.

"The State Government has specific legislation, regulations and policies which clearly recognise the needs and rights of miners, landholders and the local environment," the spokeswoman, Kimberley Ramplin, said.

"A draft review of environmental factors has been completed and released for public comment. Submissions are being assessed and considered by the Department of Primary Industries and Mineral Resources, which will provide advice to the minister in the coming months."