It is hoped a trip to the opal fields earlier this month will mean the NSW Government will tread carefully when navigating the minefield of introducing new regulations.

MP Roy Butler and Minister for Resources Courtney Houssos visited Lightning Ridge on 7 April to meet with local stakeholders and discuss the opal mining review. 

"The law as it stands now is cumbersome and requires updating," Mr Butler said.

"Following this trip to Lightning Ridge, the Minister has seen firsthand how the law impacts those on the ground and how changes to those laws will affect stakeholders." 

Mr Butler and Ms Houssos visited mining and puddling sites, residential areas, unrehabilitated areas, and preserved fields. 

"Visiting Lightning Ridge and hearing directly from miners and landholders firsthand is an important next step as we consider our response to the Independent Review," Ms Houssos said.

In June 2024, an independent review into the statutory framework for small-scale titles in NSW released 81 recommendations, such as making mineral claimholders responsible for rehabilitating the area. 

As a result, a working group, consisting of the opal mining industry, landholders, First Nations representatives, and other key stakeholders, was established to review the recommendations and provide advice to the NSW government. 

In December 2024, the working group requested an extension to continue deliberations, which was granted by the Minister.

However it is not yet clear how long the extension will last.

"The aim of the review and the meeting this week is to formulate a better framework than we have now," Mr Butler said. 

"I want this resolved quickly, but not at the expense of doing it properly."

 Courtney Houssos and Roy Butler in Lightning Ridge. Photo: supplied.

Small-scale title holders were concerned their way of life would quickly diminish if they followed the recommendations. 

Lightning Ridge Miners' Association President Sebastian Deisenberger said the meeting with Mr Bulter and Ms Houssos was productive. 

"The main issue that we have is access to land. 

"In the Lightning Ridge Mining District, it was always pretty clear that there was dual occupancy of mining and grazing. 

"Normally, they coexist, but of course, there's always room for some conflict," Mr Deisenberger said. 

"We have to coexist, and we should all work in harmony. Everybody should know what their rights are." 

The LRMA also pushed for access management plan to stay with the land, not the person, in the event of a sale. 

Mr Duisenberger said the minister appeared to take their concerns on board, but no commitments were made at the meeting. 

A decline in opal mining could also trigger a drop in tourism for the Lightning Ridge community, which feeds the town's economy. 

"There is still a lot of work to do and the Minister has committed to undergoing this process methodically rather than trying to do it quickly to achieve a better and fairer framework for landholders and opal miners to work within," Mr Butler said. 

"I will continue to work with the minister to ensure any changes to the legislation are fit-for-purpose and represent what we have heard from those it impacts." 

 Mr Duisenberger said that the opal mining review will remain open for the time being. 

"There will be room for further discussion. We will keep in touch with the minister's office and try to get another meeting."