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The Working Group on Camps on Claims strongly supports Walgett Shire Council’s preparing a local plan for Lightning Ridge Township and for nearby opal fields which the community agrees are to be preserved.
“The Working Group stresses the State Government’s agreement with the community and the need for public consultation before any changes to that situation,” said the Working Group Chairman, Peter Downes.
The Working Group consists of representatives from Planning NSW and the Departments of Mineral Resources, Land and Water Conservation, Local Government, and from Walgett Shire Council.
Mr Downes said the Working Group did not support a move to fewer new houses on the preserved fields.
“The Lightning Ridge Mining Board has recommended that houses on the preserved fields be 200 metres apart instead of 50 metres and that there should be no more new houses.
“The recommendation is a good one because the preserved fields should be protected for continued mining.
“Existing agreed controls on houses, however, should remain until they are replaced by a local plan.
“The draft plan must go on public exhibition so that people can comment and have their views considered when it is being finalised.
“The number of new houses on the preserved fields in the last five years has been low and has roughly equalled the number of houses permanently vacated.
“Thus the number of houses remained at just over 1,700 and new houses have not had a major impact on continued mining.
“I have written to the Chairman of the Mining Board, Tony Galligan, explaining the Working Group’s views.”
Mr Downes said the impact of the recent High Court decision on native title in the Western Division had to be assessed before Western Lands leases for houses on the preserved fields could be established.
“This should be able to be done quickly.
“The Working Group would still like to buy property at the Nine Mile or any other mine field so that land can be subdivided and leased to miners,” Mr Downes said.
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