The members sanctioned the LRMA representatives on the Lightning Ridge Advisory Board as Sebastian Deisenberger and Maxine O’Brien and alternates as Ormie Molyneux and Fred Mallouk. The members also passed a motion to endorse the board to negotiate with the government to amend the purpose of the Crown environmental levy of $20 per year to enable the levy to be used for the relevant environmental studies and the defence of those studies to open up new areas particularly in Opal Prospecting Area 4 in addition to the existing purpose of the levy - “Rehabilitation and environmental maintenance work on areas not currently held under mineral claim”.

Another motion passed by the members was for the LRMA to establish a fighting fund and money collected to be used only for court cases and related costs.

The main topic of conversation was compensation and president Sebastian Deisenberger advised members we are awaiting the Wilcox report and its recommendations but the resolution of the compensation issue will still depend upon the Department of Trade & Investment and what they choose to implement.

Joe Schellnegger advised members that $1,539,519 worth of opal was put before the LRMA Opal Advisory Service in 2011 compared with $1,884,923 last year. The Opal Advisory Service has closed for the year and will reopen the first Saturday in February 2012.

Members and their families finished the day with a barbecue at the LRMA Christmas party.

NEW MEMBERS

The following have applied for membership of the LRMA. If any member has an objection to any of the membership applications please contact the LRMA office and your objection will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Carlos Gonzalez Proposer: Greg Bateup Seconder: Michael Cooke

Tim Molyneux Proposer: Ormie Molyneux Seconder; Maxine O’Brien

Paula Miller Proposer: John Moyle Seconder: Glenn Buchanan

Shane Shaheen Proposer: Mark Shaheen Seconder: Johannes Schellnegger

Jacob Shaheen Proposer: Mark Shaheen Seconder: Johannes Schellnegger

Jeffrey Chambers Proposer: Chuck Peters Seconder: Allan Whiteoak

David Oliver Proposer: Ljobmir Trifinovic Seconder: Vlad Vinkovic

Nigel Logan Proposer: Ormond Molyneux Seconder: Maxine O’Brien

Mary Aracic Proposer: Stephen Aracic Seconder: Margaret Schofield