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Questions have been raised as to how the areas designated as “waste dumps” at Mulga’s Rush, Grawin and Carters have become available for pegging.
For this to occur a change to the act was required.
Prior to any changes being made the areas were by agreement between landholders and miners.
In some cases agreement was unable to be reached so a more workable solution was sought.
As far as can be determined the policy to reach the solution was discussed and determined by the Mining Board.
This policy change was not a legislated change but became a Mineral Claims District condition endorsed by Mineral Resources Minister, Mr Edward Obeid.
Condition 1(c) “a mineral claim for mining purposes only may be granted for “opal puddling” and/or for the stock piling or depositing of overburden, ore or tailings”, but its area may not exceed two hectares, provided the necessary changes to allow the pending claim applications over the waste dump areas to be accepted. The changes appeared in the Government Gazette March 28 2002.
Media spokesperson for the Department of Mineral Resources, Jenny Ward, said, “that no hasty decisions will be made regarding the four pending applications.”
Whilst the gazettal of the said change provided public notification it has been widely suggested that local notification would have been a more acceptable manner of informing miners of the change.
Miners use the waste dump areas to help meet the rehabilitation requirements set by the Department.
Publicising any changes to the manner in which the areas may be administered would have better assisted miners in understanding and adhering to provisions rather than create confusion and doubt.
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