More fossicking areas may attract more grey nomads
With the treasure-hunting boom in full swing, the authorities in Central Queensland are hoping they have struck tourism gold by opening up more fossicking areas.
Many grey nomads travel with metal detectors, pans, sieves and shovels as they traverse the country, and the idea is that more fossicking areas will lure more long-term travellers to rural communities.
Two new fossicking areas have just opened in the western Isaac region, and Isaac Regional Council is extremely positive about the potential.
“Gold fossicking helps assist Clermont’s economy and we praise the State Government for opening these areas,” Mayor Anne Baker told The Morning Bulletin newspaper. “We hope these new areas will attract visitors to the region by bringing economic and social benefits to Clermont.”
The discovery of alluvial gold in gullies south of Clermont in 1861 triggered one of Queensland’s major gold rushes and today the area attracts interest from fossickers and metal detector enthusiasts.
The new areas are at Blair Athol State Forest, 22 kilometres north-west of Clermont. The Central Gold District around Clermont now had 10 fossicking areas, including seven on State forests.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the Clermont Community and Business Group, Isaac Regional Council, and fossicking and prospecting representatives had requested more areas to be made available for fossicking.
“We had comments from locals and prospectors that some current fossicking areas on private and public land were being overworked, so it is wonderful we now have two new areas in Blair Athol State Forest,” she told The Morning Bulletin. “But it’s also worth remembering that a fossicking licence is required for this activity.”
A month-long licence costs $11.55 for a family, or $8 for an individual. Information on fossicking around Clermont is available here.
More information about fossicking in Queensland is available here.
