20th February 2002 BOA Editorial

It is ironic that President of the LRMA, Jerry Lomax, can loosely refer to the DANGEROUS PRECEDENT that has been set by Mr Slack-Smith by setting a compensation figure of $50 per claim on 'Muttabun'. Perhaps, whilst he is expressing this concern, and is focusing upon precedents, he may like to consider the precedents that have been set in the supply of POWER TO THE FIELDS before it was decided safety and sterilisation were major issues.

We all know that there is a network of powerlines crossing the opal fields that have supplied businesses, mining Purpose leases, Outstations etc.

We are also aware that many additional residences are 'hooked up' from these points of supply. Most people are both mindful of safety and sterilisation but find it difficult to accept that these issues are being raised in 'mined out' areas where precedents have already been set.

Miners in the early days of production at Lightning Ridge would have had a greater exposure to safety and a very real fear of sterilisation as the density of camps increased while they prospected the areas of the Preserved Fields, yet power was permitted to progress.

Today as the errors of the past have begun to rectify themselves with the progression to Stage 2 of the residential Claim issue it seems unreasonable that 'brick walls' are being put before those who seek power in a legal and orderly manner.

How can anyone raise objections when precedents have already been set?

Yes, the privatisation of power has bought with it extra problems and costs but none that are insurmountable.

Today we live in a 'user pay' society!

Miners too have been educated into this system despite any resistance they may have raised. If a Residential Claimholder (miner) is prepared to pay for a service, is conscious of safety and liability and respects the Mining Act, how can anyone oppose the orderly and reasonable supply of power.

The LRMA are to be praised for bringing the opal mining industry into the 21st. Century, yet many of their members, to whom they have an obligated to represent the economic and social welfare interests of, under their Articles of Association, are being left in the 'dark'.

The argument that residential claimholders CHOOSE to live on the fields has worn thin! Residential claimholders now outnumber the combined rate payers of Lightning Ridge and Walgett, representing a majority of rate paying residents be it ever so minimal. Their economic worth to the community is obvious!

Whilst some do choose to live on the fields for some it is an absolute necessity.

What is the alternative? Commission Housing is unavailable in Lightning Ridge and land prices far too excessive for this category. Opal prices may have been forced back to reality after the buoyant early 90's boom, but unfortunately unrealistic real estate prices still exist.

Residential camp dwellers have been legitimised by a system who finally recognised that the problem just wasn't going to go away.

With this came the Working Party and their charter to progress the matter to the grant of Western lands Leases and a bankable title.

If this is an issue requiring legislative change then perhaps the models introduced in South Australia and Queensland which appear successful should be looked at. In the past, no matter what the issue, and certainly some have been heavy and protracted , good sense has prevailed, as those elected by the people as Councillors, LRMA Board members or politicians have managed to negotiate acceptable outcomes.

I have no doubt that the issue of power to residential Claims or Western Lands Leases will follow these past positive trends