Letters to Editor

16 November 2006

The situation regarding purchasing, storing and using explosives in Coober Pedy has become completely ridiculous. On top of the myriad rules and regulations already in force, some genius has now dreamed up new regulations relating to purchasing and handling of Ammonium Nitrate.

This list of ‘ten commandments’ is a classic even for Government bureaucrats. One now needs a PERMIT TO CARRY, PERMIT TO PURCHASE, LICENCE TO STORE (and can only be stored in the LICENCED AREA as indicated in the SECURITY PLAN), and be the holder of a current PERMIT TO USE OR DISPOSE!! Also a record of each use or disposal must be retained for a PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. This is on top of all other rules and regulations and it is possible, as time goes on, more and more restrictions could be imposed as bureaucrats involved try and justify their existence.

Let us hope and pray that there is someone within the political arena with enough intelligence, common sense and fortitude to do something about this bureaucratic madness, which is achieving nothing and just playing into the hands of these crazy terrorists who have hijacked the Islamic religion for their own insane agenda of terror, hatred and dissension throughout the free world.

Would finally just mention that the Coober Pedy Opal Fields must be one of the last areas where small miners can work freely without too many restrictions and, with sensible and discretionary policing and controls, will continue to do so for many years to come.

BRIAN COKER, COOBER PEDY