Miners flock to Lightning Ridge as officials clarify claims
In a significant gathering on May 30, nearly 600 miners gathered at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club came to hear from representatives from the Department of Mining, Exploration, and Geoscience.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the redetermination of invalid claims caused by previously flawed administrative processes.
Executive Director of Assessments and Systems, Jamie Tripodi and her team, took centre stage, presenting the new systems designed to assist miners in navigating the paperwork for reworking their claims.
Acknowledging that the previous system’s failures were not the fault of landholders, the mining community, or the Lightning Ridge Mines Department staff, Ms Tripodi extended a sincere apology for the downtime experienced by miners.
Following an explanation of the validation processes and the formation of the new procedures, attendees were permitted a Q&A session.
Despite emotional pleas from miners eager to return to work, order prevailed within the packed auditorium.
While Ms Tripodi could not provide answers that satisfied everyone, she did propose a potential solution.
This solution includes deploying members of her team to a pop-up help centre at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club two or three times a week to help with applications.
The Mines Department, Small Scale Titles Project Team, and the Natural Resources Access Regulator are also available to offer support.
Although some miners expressed discontent with the outcome and the presentation, many took advantage of the on-site assistance provided by the team, receiving help with paperwork and clarification of titles.
Steve Beadman and fiancé Nikki Baillie had nothing but praise for the local Mines Department concerning paperwork and claims assistance.
Expressing her gratitude, Ms Baillie says, “Although none of us was pleased about being forced to halt our work, I must commend the Mines Department for their exceptional assistance.”
“Thanks to their invaluable support, we anticipate resuming our digging activities within the next week.”
“I cannot speak highly enough of the help and understanding demonstrated by the staff.”
Looking ahead, the Minister for Finance and Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos, is scheduled to visit Lightning Ridge this week.
Her visit will involve meetings with landholders and the Lightning Ridge Miners Association.
Although the meeting is not open to the public, the association acts as a voice for miners, with its Board of Directors comprised of local miners.
Gratitude was expressed to the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club for its pivotal role in facilitating the meetings and providing a pop-up venue for ongoing assistance to miners.
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