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When Amber Betteridge moved her family to Queensland's Gemfields to hunt for sapphires, she never imagined she'd become locked in a "David versus Goliath" fight against the Queensland government.
Soon after she arrived, the state government put forward a proposal to limit small-scale mining claim tenures to 15 years to crack down on people living on claims without mining them.
It was a nightmare for Ms Betteridge, who wanted certainty for her young family.
"There's been a lot of time, effort and willpower gone into this … and it really is a testament to how devastating the impacts would be on our community," she said.
This week the state government quietly released its latest plan, abandoning the proposal to limit claim tenures after gem miners banded together to campaign against it.
"We're very, very happy to see that tenure capping has been removed … it's a massive sigh of relief for us," Ms Betteridge said.
"What the Save the Gemfields group has been able to achieve has been nothing short of miraculous.
"It really is a bit of a David versus Goliath thing."
Many gem miners opposed the proposal and argued it would turn the Gemfields into a "ghost town" by making the area a less appealing place to live.
The new plan confirmed the government would no longer seek to limit renewals on mining claims and that residents would be able to continue to renew their claims indefinitely.
But how did a small group of gem miners, many whom live off the grid and spend their days digging in the dirt looking for a sparkle, launch such a coordinated campaign?
Selling Eureka flags
When the Queensland government first introduced a year-long pause on approving new mining claims in 2021, a small working group of eight people came together to begin Save the Gemfields and protect their community's interests.
"We fought tirelessly in doing campaigns, online, by social media through media contacts, newspapers, radio stations," local Michelle Johns said.
Inspired by the Eureka Stockade, Save the Gemfields began selling Eureka flags for miners to display on their land and to post on social media.
During the Eureka Stockade rebellion of 1854, gold prospectors seeking changes to mining licensing and other reforms clashed with authorities in Ballarat, Victoria, where more than 20 miners are thought to have died.
Ms Johns said she sold up to 700 flags, which were still widely considered a symbol of democracy and defiance.
"It was the injustice, that's what it was created for back in the day with the gold miners [during the Eureka Stockade] and we felt the same was happening to us," she said.
Ms Johns said the group also made a simple form miners could sign to oppose the reform if they were short on time or were struggling with the paperwork.
"We managed to obtain 800 submissions from residents here on the Gemfields … so we had a lot of sway," she said.
Years of uncertainty for miners
Queensland Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said the government consulted extensively on the issue with a range of stakeholders.
In October last year, he said the changes would stop "cowboys" living on claims without mining them.
But on Wednesday, Mr Stewart said he had listened to the feedback and would do further consultation next year after the state election.
"We will continue to work with everyone to make sure these reforms support them and help the sector grow stronger into the future," he said.
Ms Johns runs a full-time business as a mining tenure agent and helps people navigate paperwork like transfers, renewals and staking new claims.
"I'm actually quite angry about it … the money would have been better off spent [on] safety and helping residents become compliant," she said.
The years of uncertainty also caused some to prematurely sell their land, according to Ms Johns.
Some concerns ongoing
The government is still proposing some changes to structures on mining claims to ensure they are properly rehabilitated after miners leave.
Homes on claims are meant to be semi-permanent in nature, but some in the region are more permanent.
The latest document proposes that once reform legislation is passed through parliament, the transfer of mining claims with non-compliant structures to another person will still be allowed for two years.
After that, any non-compliant structures would need to be destroyed unless the claim is transferred to a spouse.
President of the local lapidary club Deborah Wouters said the home on her claim was built in the 1970s and was a significant historical site.
"It was one of the mining association groups that used to meet in our hut, it's concrete based, with a tin roof, rosewood walls and post," she said.
"It's a bit of a history our place, so it'd be a bit sad if we decide to sell it and we'd have to pull it all down."
Ms Betteridge said the current lack of housing in the area would be exacerbated under the new proposal.
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