Opal miners in outback Queensland are worried about the future of their industry, with a huge property used for mining being turned into a national park. The land was purchased by the state government using a 21-million-dollar anonymous donation, but it is also home to dozens of leasehold miners.
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00:00They say it's all about the thrill of the hunt.
00:07Robbie Vinicombe has spent 30 years combing the red dirt of outback Queensland, searching
00:12for slithers of rainbow rock.
00:14It's the most beautiful gemstone on earth.
00:17I'll be here for the rest of my life if I can.
00:20The desolate stretch of land is home to a gemstone found only in Queensland, the boulder
00:25opal.
00:26If that was clean, you'd be looking at a $50,000 stone there.
00:30But Robbie fears his industry is threatened.
00:33Like many other opal miners in the area, he holds mining leases on Vergemont, a former
00:38cattle station bought by the Queensland Government to turn into National Park.
00:43We're all small companies, we're family companies, we've invested our life in this.
00:48Nearby properties have also been bought, all of which will combine to create a protected
00:53area corridor for endangered and vulnerable species.
00:56There's dozens and dozens and dozens of stakeholders here that have been here a lifetime and generations
01:03and we're just completely ignored as though we don't even exist.
01:07While it's been assured that existing operations can continue on parts of the property, it's
01:12unclear what the future holds, with some mining leases nearing expiration.
01:16For people to invest in this we need to know certainty, we need to know there is a future.
01:21The industry contributes $14 million to a nearby town touted the Boulder Opal Capital
01:27of the World.
01:28I can't see the Winton Shire without opal in it, it is so important to us.
01:34A bush conservation group says while Vergemont Station's landscape isn't unique in outback
01:39Queensland, it stands out from other government owned parks.
01:43The fossicking is a pretty small footprint, so I think there's certainly potential for
01:46those things to work hand in hand.
01:49For now, miners like Robbie persevere for the lucky find.