mineral licences in sa

Under the heading ,
South Australia Information Sheet , Mineral Exploration Licences , Alphabetical Listing Dated 19th November 2013.

There are approximately 300 Mineral Companies either applying , renewing , or pending with masses and masses of exploration licences over the whole of South Australia .
I am sure the farmers are aware of this list but will let these companies go about spending on provisions within the local communities in finding a resource and will only protest once the companies are under starters orders for production and that is after spending millions and millions of shareholders funds in the local towns . I know some of these liscences are out the back of no where but if the leases are in the nearness to the local township why don't the do gooders protest before one ounce of soil has been drilled.
Just my feeling but still hark back to 1874 where the farmers and the miners lived in harmony without any long term effects for either party.
Decided to invest with Rex Minerals as a long term (Blue Chip Investment) but appear this is another bad plan on my part . Never believed that it would go this far only to be sunk by a handful of locals.