Dozens of Queensland opal miners face uncertain future
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.
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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.