Dozens of Queensland opal miners face uncertain future

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Dozens of opal miners in outback Queensland are fearful for their future due to the state government's plans to turn a former cattle station into a national park.

Transcript

00:00We've got visitors, mate.

00:05Robbie Vinicombe has spent the past 30 years hunting in the red dirt for a rare bounty.

00:12A gem that's only found in this desolate part of Queensland.

00:16The boulder opal.

00:17It's the most beautiful gemstone on earth.

00:20I'll be here for the rest of my life if I can.

00:24But like many other opal miners in the area, he fears for the industry's future.

00:29Mr Vinicombe holds mining leases on Vergemont, a former cattle station that is soon to become

00:35a national park.

00:37There's dozens and dozens and dozens of stakeholders here that have been here a lifetime and generations.

00:43You know what I mean?

00:45And we're just completely ignored as though we don't even exist.

00:49The Queensland Government says the land was bought because of its key habitat for endangered

00:53and vulnerable species.

00:55It's significant for the biodiversity that's in that part of the world.

01:00While it's been assured that existing operations can continue on parts of the property, it's

01:04unclear what the future holds, with some mining leases nearing expiration.

01:09The Department of Resources says it's committed to working with the industry to improve outcomes

01:14for the prospectors.

01:15We're all small companies, we're family companies, we've invested our life in this.

01:21The industry contributes $14 million a year to the area.

01:24I can't see the Winton Shire without Opal in it.

01:28It is so important to us.

01:30What we need is certainty for this industry.

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