A recent review found more than 850 small-scale opal miners in Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs have been granted invalid mining licences, putting their livelihoods in jeopardy.

A government review of administrative processes for the grant and renewal of mineral claims across the Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs Mineral Claim Districts has identified a range of issues arising from legislative reform of the Mining Act 1992 that commenced in 2015.

The review uncovered 3343 current mineral claims that were impacted by invalid decisions, including 1230 invalidly granted licences to 827 opal miners in Lightning Ridge and 31 opal miners in White Cliffs.

"Miners will have to cease work immediately and will have to resubmit their claims," Natural Resources Minister, Courtney Houssos told Central West 7 News yesterday.

The report drew many emotive comments on social media, some claiming government is shifting the goal posts and blaming the innocent. Others called for a class action against the government.

Ms Houssos said the Government’s priority was for a timely resolution of the matter, which recognised the statutory rights of all stakeholders.

“I am advised the mining division of the Department of Regional NSW unearthed this legacy issue earlier this year and is working through the implications as quickly as possible. It is deploying additional resources to work with miners and landholders to expedite mineral claim validation,” Ms Houssos said.

“On behalf of the government I apologise for this disruption to miners and landholders. We know how important the opal industry is to Lightning Ridge, White Cliffs and surrounding communities. That’s why we will be working closely with impacted miners and landholders to expedite determinations of mineral claim grants and renewals.”

This afternoon (Thursday 25 May), the Lightning Ridge Mining Association will hold a board meeting at the Association Office, with the Glengarry, Grawin, Sheepyard Miners Association to discuss concerns and ways forward.

At this stage a face to face miners information session will be held on Tuesday 30 May 2023 at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club. There will also be online information sessions for those that cannot attend in person.

“I look forward to visiting Lightning Ridge when parliament rises to meet in person with miners and landholders to gain a firsthand understanding of opal mining and work with them to identify improvements to the current framework,” Ms Houssos said.

Western Plains App will follow up with a report on the meeting outcome tomorrow.