PHOTO: The community is concerned that changes will not only impact opal mining, but the tourism industry they’ve built off of it.
Miners and Lightning Ridge locals met on 5 February to discuss the impending review of small-scale titles that has the community concerned about the future of opal mining.
The review, which was ordered last year following an error that saw hundreds of opal miners temporarily lose their mining licence, is tasked with analysing the current state of the opal industry in NSW.
The Lightning Ridge Area Opal Reserve has concerns about any changes that make opal mining less accessible and feasible for the town’s booming industry, and seemingly, locals agree, with over 200 people showing up this week to learn how to submit their opinions of the review…