Third prospector search this season highlights need for safety awareness

• 23 prospectors reported missing since 2011

• Personal Locator Beacons encouraged for remote activities

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion has renewed calls for prospectors to ensure they have a safety plan, after a major search for a missing 59-year-old man near Kalgoorlie-Boulder this week.

"Although this had a happy ending, it highlights a potentially deadly situation because the prospector did not have a set schedule for phoning home to his family," Mr Marmion said.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder police carried out a preliminary search for New South Wales man Robin Ballard on Monday night and a plane was used on Tuesday to search a wider area, but neither search located the prospector.

The search - the third this prospecting season - was called off after the prospector called his wife.

"Some people may dismiss this by saying all's well that ends well, but this was a stressful situation involving considerable police resources," the Minister said.

Mr Marmion reminded prospectors of the Department of Mines and Petroleum's new safety awareness campaign, the Seven Golden Rules for Prospecting.

"This incident emphasises how important it is for prospectors to follow these safety rules, including the need to carry Personal Locator Beacons," he said.

"These devices can make it much faster for rescuers to get to someone in distress."

Details of the Seven Golden Rules for Prospecting campaign are available at Department of Mines and Petroleum offices and online.

Fact File

• 3,137 Miner's Right licences issued so far for 2014 season

• Searches for missing prospectors average 11.3 hours but many last one or two days

• Aircraft searches cost up to $5,000 per hour

Minister's office - 6552 6800