For many grey nomads, fossicking for precious metals or gemstones is an important part of their travels … and it’s always exciting when a new venue opens up for exploration.
And those who keep a metal detector or a sieve stashed in the back of the van will be delighted then to hear that a dedicated fossicking area could be on its way to the Queensland town of Mount Morgan.
The Chronicle newspaper reports that Rockhampton Regional Council has endorsed the establishment of a General Permission Area (GPA) for recreational fossicking at No. 7 Dam.
The former gold boom town saw 225 tons of gold, 50 tons of silver and 360,000 tons of copper mined in a 99-year period, and the mine there is famed for its huge brick chimney, known as the Big Stack, which was built in 1905.
Gold hunting is increasingly popular among grey nomads. PIC: Peter McKenzie
Now, the council will now seek the approval from the State Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development to allow for the creation of the GPA.
A community consultation process led to more than 250 responses made, of which 89.1% were in favour of creating a recreational fossicking area.
Many of the responders were from the Mount Morgan community and Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams told the Chronicle that the survey sent a clear message.
“The people of Mount Morgan, the broader region and fossickers want to see a GPA established,” he said.
Council staff will be used to develop the GPA ahead of its opening and to alleviate concerns regarding privacy council have added a 50-metre exclusion zone around the perimeter of the site.
Upon the creation of the GPA, those wishing to undertake recreational fossicking will require a permit issued online by the State Government.
While councillors are hoping the move will boost tourism, there are some reservations about elements of the proposal.
Permit holders will be given a map of where they can and cannot go, and Mount Morgan Outdoors business owner Eric Stevenson, told the Chronicle the rules would be the downfall of the GPA.
“There is to be no vehicle access except to the main car park, so this means those with limited mobility that want to say, access the three historical abandoned mine sites will have to walk through some pretty rugged country for up to one kilometre from the William Street and about two to 2.5 kilometres from the No. 7 Dam Car Park,” he said. “Some of the grey nomad fossickers … of which make up a great deal of the visitors to Mount Morgan simply will not be able to get there to fossick.”
Mr Stevenson also said the rules around which tools can be used and where fossicking can take place are also a problem.
“Fossicking isn’t just metal detecting, it is panning and sluicing in the watercourse for gold, as this district was predominantly hard rock and alluvial mining it would be a major part of fossicking,” he said. “To be honest, if access via vehicle and no panning \ sluicing in the Dam and River is not permissible, then the GPA will be a failure.”
A council draft of 25 rules for those using the GPA include the ruling “hand tools only are permitted (including metal detectors). Educator dredges, sluices, dry blowers or machinery of any other type are not permitted.”
Further drafted rules include that motor vehicles can be used on formed roads and tracks only and that “fossicking must only occur within the general permission area, where it is safe to do so and excluding any dam infrastructure, roads, creeks and gullies.”
WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO HISTORIC WINTON
Grey Nomad members are being given the chance to win one of two double passes for the 48th Historic Winton to be held May 24-25 at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria. The fabulous event promises two full days of historic car racing and vehicle displays of the elegant, the rustic, the weird and wacky. Both double passes (each valued at $170) offer entry for two people for both days. Camping is available at the event.
Click here to learn about Historic Winton, our competition, and how to enter.
Members: If you wish to enter, please click here.
We planned to stay at a popular forest camp in Victoria’s Golden Triangle near Bendigo.
We drove in & noticed that we were being looked at in an unfriendly suspicious way by everyone camped there.
They seemed to regard each other with suspicion as well
We didn’t stay.
We’re bird watchers/photographers.
I suppose they all had their secret fossicking spot in the forest.
I read the finer details of the planning proposal.
There are so many restrictions being put in place you would hardly want to fossic there.
Access by vehicle, mode of fossicking, camping, permits, red tape, fees..etc
No thanks..!!
We are so over regulated.