Grey nomad fossickers will have new places to dig for treasure from this weekend.
The Victorian state government has allowed eight national park areas to be opened up to gold prospectors and gem seekers, including five parts of the Alpine National Park, one area of the Lake Eildon National Park, and two sections of the Lerderderg State Park.
The use of metal detectors and hand tools will be allowed, but the use of more elaborate motorised devices sometimes used by prospectors has been ruled out. A review of the environmental and cultural impact of the decision will take place in 12 months.
The Victorian National Parks Association has criticised the decision, saying national parks are there for nature, not for digging up.
”The government acknowledges that prospecting damages natural areas, so it is disappointing that the activity will be allowed in new areas in national parks,” Phil Ingamells from the Association told WA Today.
Environmentalists argue there have been instances where waterways have been damaged by being dammed and diverted to find minerals.
Rita Bentley, the president of the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria, was also disappointed … but for different reasons. She said many of the sites were up four-wheel-drive tracks, hard to access especially by older members, and were not known gold areas.
”While we appreciate the extra access, the government had the chance to allow the responsible use of national and state parks and they haven’t done that,” she told WA Today.
Are you a grey nomad fossicker? Do you think there should be fewer restrictions on where you can seek out gems and precious metals? Comment below.
the libs in nsw allow shooters in parks to keep shooters party happy.
so I suppose they can let people dig up the parks as well.