Vic State parks.

[Davent]

Can you, or could you prospect in Vic state parks? A host of new fines are being introduced, check this out!

 

[Dave79]

Interfering with a rock

 

[Hawkear]

Can you, or could you prospect in Vic state parks? A host of new fines are being introduced, check this out!

View attachment 4999

Whilst these regulations only affect a specific number of gazetted parks mostly metropolitan, the concerning things are the scale of the fines which are extraordinary and the possibility that other state parks and lands could be added in the future.
It gives those opposed to our interests and lurking in the corridors of government extraordinary powers close down our prospecting by edict only.
It is not only a concern for us but for all Victorians that powers with excessively high penalties could also be used against basic rights such as assembly in a park for a meeting or protest etc.

 

[allcables]

well No.2 would be covered by a miners right. yes no perhaps maybe?
one has to ask whats this all about

 

[user 4386]

Can you, or could you prospect in Vic state parks? A host of new fines are being introduced, check this out!

View attachment 4999

Source of this info? Needs source and full context.

For example, the State Parks site says:

"Major streams and rivers of the spectacular Alpine National Park provide great fishing opportunities in some of Australia's most stunning mountain landscapes. Catch brown trout in the King and Rose Rivers and at Lake William Hovell, or fish for brown trout and black fish, bass and eels in the Dargo River during the cooler months. Grampians National Park with its rugged sandstone ranges, clad with forests and rich in wildlife, provides an ideal setting for anglers. Lake Wartook is considered to be one of the more attractive of waters in the region and is well regarded for trout fishing by bait and fly-fishers".

And they have been stocking them regularly....

And swimming without a permit - I doubt that is a coverall. Many of the group activities have long been restricted (and permits commonly refused).

 

[user 4485]

Farcebook & the media strikes again.
It's a storm in a tea cup.

The current legislation is due to expire in March 2023.
As such a draft 2023 Regulation has been through the due process & public submission was available here (now closed August 2022):
https://engage.vic.gov.au/MRP_Regulations

Many of the current regulations applying to parks are due to expire on 31 March 2023. The regulations currently applying to metropolitan parks are outdated and do not benefit from amendments made to the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 made in 2016. In the case of regional parks they are often unregulated for public recreational use.

The draft regulation specifically states that:

Application of Regulations to holders of a permit, lease, licence or other authority

Any provision in these Regulations that provides for an offence does not apply to a person who is acting in accordance with the terms and conditions of any lease, licence, permit or other authority granted under the Act, or agreement entered into under the Act, or another Act governing Crown land to the extent that the activities authorised by the permit, lease, licence or, permit, authority or agreement are inconsistent with these Regulations.

405 Digging, removal or bringing of material prohibited

(1) A person must not, in a park, dig or remove from a park any gravel, shell, grit, sand, soil or other similar material unless that person does so—

(a) to bury faeces in accordance with regulation 604; or

(b) in accordance with a miner's right or tourist fossicking authority issued to that person.

The draft 2023 Regulations are only reviewing &/or updating the existing 2013 Regulation that's 10 year life is nearly up.
Many of the penalty units (fines) already exist in the current Regulations & only apply to activities that are not permitted etc.
Basically if you can swim, fish, prospect, collect firewood etc. in a State Park now you will still be able to after the 2023 Regulation is gazetted.
If you're doing the wrong thing, for example prospecting without a Miners Right or prospecting in a Park where it's not permitted, you'll get fined under the Regulation - same as you would now.

 

[Davent]

Source of this info? Needs source and full context.

For example, the State Parks site says:

"Major streams and rivers of the spectacular Alpine National Park provide great fishing opportunities in some of Australia's most stunning mountain landscapes. Catch brown trout in the King and Rose Rivers and at Lake William Hovell, or fish for brown trout and black fish, bass and eels in the Dargo River during the cooler months. Grampians National Park with its rugged sandstone ranges, clad with forests and rich in wildlife, provides an ideal setting for anglers. Lake Wartook is considered to be one of the more attractive of waters in the region and is well regarded for trout fishing by bait and fly-fishers".

And they have been stocking them regularly....

And swimming without a permit - I doubt that is a coverall. Many of the group activities have long been restricted (and permits commonly refused).

It's not national parks, it's Vic State parks.

 

[user 4485]

It's not national parks, it's Vic State parks.

Same same
Parks Victoria look after State Parks too:
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we-manage

 

[Newprospect]

They’ll be charging us for the air we breath next!!!!!!

 

[user 4485]

Due to varying beliefs and opinions, discussions directly relating to politics or religion are not permitted.

Although this is somewhat a "political" type discussion it will stay open if kept on the topic of the 2013 Vic Parks Regulation vs. the proposed draft 2023 Vic Park Regulation.
Posts specifically naming a politician/s or political party & links to any political news stories will be removed without notice.

 

[Teemore]

Actually refers to Regional Parks (as well as the other areas noted in their document, golf courses and such) and the 2 that affect prospectors are Hepburn and Bendigo (Regional Parks, NOT State Parks or National Parks).
As stated Hepburn and Bendigo give you a get out of jail free card by allowing provisions under your Miners Right. Shame the political Party can't be cited as in my mind they're sensationalising an issue with their "shock jock" announcements (although I acknowledge any green type policies pose an issue for us longer term). At the moment submissions are being "considered" with DELWP before making recommendations to the relevant minister. Submissions closed some time ago BUT it doesn't hurt to let your local MP know that you'd not be happy with any additional restrictions to prospecting. The links previously posted will provide details, THEY need to be read in preference to any attention seeking political headlines.