Opal Mining Act 1995

The holder of a precious stones prospecting permit who pegs out an area for a precious stones claim that is wholly within a precious stones field has, subject to this Act—

an exclusive right to conduct mining operations, other than by the use of declared equipment, for the recovery of precious stones from the area, and to sell, use, or dispose of precious stones recovered in the course of those operations, from the day of the pegging; and

an exclusive right to apply for the registration of a precious stones claim within 14 days after the day on which the area is pegged out.

The holder of a precious stones prospecting permit who pegs out—

an area for a precious stones claim that is wholly outside a precious stones field; or

an area for an opal development lease, has an exclusive right to apply for the registration of the relevant tenement within 14 days after the day on which the area is pegged out (but does not have a right to conduct mining operations on the land until a tenement is registered).