Opal and Fossil Centre planned for Lightning Ridge
September 4, 2004
PLANS to build a large Opal and Fossil Centre on 2 hectares at Lightning Ridge have made headlines this week with the Department of Primary Industries & Minerals agreeing to investigate the proposal.
The world class Opal Centre would employ at least 10 people and give a serious economic boost to Lightning Ridge. Miners' Association president Jerry Lomax said "It would be a valuable asset to town."
A spokeswoman for DPI, Kerry Hickey said there was "nothing concrete or certain about it at the moment."
The building proposed would have a flood space of 1600sqm of which 630sqm was for viewing the collection. The building would also have exhibition spaces, offices, a laboratory, lecture theatre for 60 people as well as a cafe and opal shop. Outside there would be 2500sqm of parking for three buses and 60 car spaces. The centre would also require a curator to care for the collection, there would be visiting scientists, guides and gallery assistants and the consultants also suggest a historical society curator.
Committee chairman, David Lane, said that architects intended to recess the building into the ground, not only to provide greater security to the collection but to minimise the need for air conditioning and heating.
The biggest hurdle would be the water supply "however the architect believes it can be self sufficient in water with composting toilets and the like," Mr Lane said. The geotechnical report was expected by October and that would give a final answer on whether the site was stable and secure enough to go ahead, he said. All going well the architect could then get to work while the committee finalised a business plan for the centre. The consultant's report envisaged that a major part of the centre's finances would be earned - souveniers, bookshop, cafe, entry fees and the like and the task was to make the centre affordable for as many as possible.
Source: The Ridge News