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Volume 23, Thursday 14th December, 2006
Miners seek return of their land
Opal miners in Andamooka want to open negotiations with BHP Billiton over the return of 10 square kilometres of their precious gem field. In 1977 the state government granted Western Mining Company access and control over the land which represented half of the 20 square kilometres defined as the precious gem field. The company put down drill test holes as part of a major exploration project. The last of eleven holes drilled, on the southern fringe of the gem field was the one that led to the discovery of the Olympic Dam ore body containing, copper, gold and uranium. However the 10 square kilometres was never restored to the Andamooka opal miners. President of the Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners Association, Mike Freeman, said the miners feel it is worth trying to get all or some of the land back. “It’s like a dog who has lost a bone, you’ve got to try and get it back. “We’re very good neighbours of BHP Billiton, and like any good mining company they’ll want to protect their turf, but you never know, they may give something back in
recognition that our land had been taken in such a fashion,” Mr. Freeman said. The opal miners claim they don’t want to give the company grief, but instead want to sit down for constructive dialogue. “We recognise the massive effort the company faces in its mining activities, including providing for its community with services and the like, but a little bit of constructive criticism is a healthy thing. “So we’ll sit down with them to see how this can be achieved, and how we can move it forward,” Mr. Freeman said. Spokesman for BHP Billiton, Richard Yeales, said the company hasn’t been approached yet by the opal miners. “There’s not much we can say about it until they make the formal approach. “But yes, we’d be prepared to sit down and talk to them about it and give them a good hearing, “ Mr. Yeales said. Mr. Freeman said this all happened over 20 years ago and his miners are realistic that they may never get their land back. “Look, we have to try because our known reserves of opal are falling
and we need to open up new fields so there’s a little bit of hope if we lobby the company.” The vigour of the opal mining industry is experiencing a downturn, but the Andamooka miners hope to turn that around by trying to find new fields. APOMA has applied for a state government grant of $50,000 to help it put down test drill holes in a professionally planned exploration project. Mr. Freeman said the miners don’t want a hand out, they’re prepared to put up 30% of the cost. “This program will be specifically targeted. That is, there won’t be any frivolous holes put down on a whim because someone thinks a hole should be drilled in a creek bed. “By the miners putting in their own money, more exploration holes can Above: Santa makes his way on to Richardson Place during the pageant. be put down, and they’ll be going down in areas that we all feel may hold that elusive show of colour,” Mr. Freeman said. He expects talks to open with BHP Roxby Central Traders thank the people of Roxby Downs for enthusiastically Billiton in the new year over the 10 taking up its call to keep the Christmas pageant dry this year. Well done. The parade wound its way around Richardson Place without incident. square kilometres of land.
Pageant success