The staff will be in town today from 9am to 1pm at the Department of Primary Industries, Mineral Resources office to help residents complete and lodge applications and to answer questions and explain the process.

A translation service via community translators will be available if required.

Western Lands Commissioner and DIPNR Far West Regional Director Geoff Wise said it was important for residents on the permissive occupancy to understand the recent offer to convert their residential mineral claim to a Western Lands Lease.

"We are working to provide Lightning Ridge residents a 'bankable' title on their land," he said.

Mr Wise said residential mineral claims were an interim arrangement that lasted either one or five years, and would not be renewed after January 2009.

"After this time, residents will need a Western Lands Lease or they will again have no title," he said.

Mr Wise said there were advantages to converting to a Western Lands Lease where people who have taken out five year claim(s) DPI has offered to refund residential mineral claims for the unused years.

"Also, Western Lands Leases are for 20 years and cost less than a residential mineral claim," he said.