Walgett Council will allocate $12,000 ex GST from general rates and revenue to produce a report on the economic impact of opal mining on the Walgett Shire.  

It comes as the NSW Government announced the Independent Review of the current statutory frameworks for the administration and regulation of small-scale opal titles (the Review).

The NSW Government has appointed the Hon. Terry Sheahan AO to lead the Review with assistance from Norton Rose Fulbright Australia.  

Several Walgett shire councillors have expressed concerns that the review may have a negative impact on rights holders and the industry. 

The review's scope analyse the statutory framework, including issues such as land access and landholder compensation, and listen to stakeholder views to make informed recommendations to the Government.  

The independent Review will also consider information provided by the Hon. Stephen Lawrence MLC, who was appointed Government Envoy to work with opal mining stakeholders on the issue of invalid mineral claims.  

IMAGE: Mining Exploration and Geoscience, 2023, © State of New South Wales

The review has so far uncovered 3,343 mineral claims impacted by invalid decisions, including 1,230 invalidly granted licences to 827 opal miners in Lightning Ridge and 31 opal miners in White Cliffs. 

Councillor Colin Hundy told the recent Walgett Council Meeting that it was important for the state government to consider that the titles afforded to opal mining sometimes went back five generations.  

"Opal mining tourism also serves its purpose," he said. "It puts Lightning Ridge on the map internationally". 

"There needs to be pressure put on the state government regarding this".  

Mayor Jason Ramien said he had "attended several meeting with the community in Lightning Ridge, who have grave concerns with matters being raised in the review and the impact that changes may have on opal mining in Lightning Ridge".  

"I believe that it is important for the Walgett Shire Council to make a submission to the review that demonstrates the importance of opal mining to the Shire and to Lightning Ridge" he said. 

The council has now moved to create a report that "quantifies the economic impact of mining, that includes community and tourism impacts would support the submission" and the report is expected to be completed by Lawrence Consulting.