It is not unknown that rental properties don't come cheap in Lightning Ridge.
The Ridge Real Estate's records show that the cheapest one-bedroom properties cost from $105 to $140 per week.
For a two bedroom home or unit, rent can be anything from $120 to $160 a week, for a three-bedroom house be expected to pay anything from $160 to $220, and if a four bedroom home is available it would rented for no less than $200.
It is for this reason that the Housing for Lightning Ridge Focus Group is holding a public meeting on Tuesday to determine how great the need for low-cost housing within the community is.
The group, formed under the Transcultural Community Council earlier this month, had heard through word of mouth from many non-English speaking background people that there was very little housing available to people with special needs or those from low economic backgrounds.
There are no housing commission homes in Lightning Ridge - in fact the only low cost housing provided in town is by Barriekneal Housing and Community under the Murdi Paaki Regional Council for Aboriginal people.
Then there are also two sets of units for aged care people, but it only caters for a very small percentage of Lightning Ridge's senior population.
Focus group spokesperson Gyorgyi Nyers said the lack of appropriate housing available was negatively affecting the community.
"The flow-down effect is quite destructive for our community, particularly in regard to the retention of our professional staff and in attracting professional staff."
Ms Nyers said a lack of housing particularly impacted on the aging community, especially those living on the opal fields.
"These people are likely out of necessity needing to be closer to services and facilities," she said.
She said another significant group requiring affordable housing existed for people in relation to mental health issues and marriage break up resulting in displaced families.
However Ms Nyers said while the group was focused on meeting the needs for the migrant community it recognised that the need also existed for the wider community.
"We believe by having established a focus group we can ask government departments questions and also invite them to speak to us," she said.
Ms Nyers said low cost housing needs had been an issue in Lightning Ride for some time but nothing had been successfully lobbied for in the past.
The focus group is made up of eight community representatives from the various multicultural groups, council, health and the aged care units.
Ms Nyers said as a group they hope to address these problems and get results for Lightning Ridge.
"That is why we need as many people as possible to supply us with information on the standard of their living situation so we can use this to lobby the housing department," she said.
"I am aware there are people living in camps without any basic facilities such as sufficient water and electricity.
"In the past the government has said people have chosen to live in camps, which is true, but that was when they were younger. Many are now older and have different needs," she said.
The Housing for Lightning Ridge Focus Group will hold their public meeting on Tuesday night at 7pm at the bowling club.
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