Detecting on side of roads (NSW)?

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Dusttodust

Dusttodust

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Hi Guys, just a question, can you detect for gold on the edge of a road? Also I have noticed on maps that there are areas shown as roads (as per attached) that do not exist, can you detect on these areas, they don't have any lot or DP numbers? are they council land, road reserves? Thanks
1727918711983.png
1727918782811.png
 
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Not sure but I would hazard a guess and say that it would be against the law to dig next to a road however, i don’t think anyone would mind if you walked the road fringe for exercise looking for a gleaming pebble but without detector. The brains trust on here will give you the definitive answer. Cheers Mackka
 
Roads in NSW are managed by Transport for NSW &/or Local Councils depending on classification (State, Regional and Local) & arrangements between Transport for NSW + Councils.
You would need to check with one or both depending on road classification & area, but I doubt either would give permission given one of the reasons NSW Councils won't allow wood collecting etc. on road verges is safety.
See #4 😁
 
IMHO road verges, particularly wide ones >10 metres between bitumen/ gravel and any boundary fences should be fair game if you leave the ground as you found it. Just park in a safe, unobtrusive spot, like anyone on the roads who pulls up for a comfort stop would do. Who’s likely to be policing such activity anyway.... see post #4
 
Your images show an unused road enclosure. Where these fall within a larger rural property they are used by the landholder, mostly via a lease from the State govt. There has been a program in place where landholder can buy the road enclosures and a lot have done so. I wouldnt access them without landholder permission.

I've not detected in road verges but I've dug samples from quartz veins in road cuttings.
 
and their answering service responds with your call is being diverted.

but back onto your topic does is it really about what you can / cannot or should not do.
Road shoulders are usually 1. 2 meters wide no driver is going tobe happy with hazards like pick & shovels or folk
wobblling around on any road side verge.
In the event of a mishap who is going to take the liability most likely the driver.
In regards to local councils they would not be happy having graded & rolled road shoulders underemined as heavy rain will potentially degrade the disturbed ground effecting drainage of gutters.
If the question was directed to Road & Transport the answer would be a definate No.
What you do is not always your own bussiness when it has the potential to negatively effect others.
We all would like to have a go on road edge detecting but seriously and imagine if evereyone was in on it.
A traffic hazard nightmare it would be for drivers.
A Definate No.
 
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​

OzzieAu said:
IMHO road verges, particularly wide ones >10 metres between bitumen/ gravel and any boundary fences should be fair game if you leave the ground as you found it. Just park in a safe, unobtrusive spot, like anyone on the roads who pulls up for a comfort stop would do. Who’s likely to be policing such activity anyway.... see post #4
Click to expand...
i think you would find that in most shires the council carriageway boundary clearance is 20 meters / 10 each side from the crown of bitumen center of road even if the private property fence intrudes over that line.
Many road survey`s were done pre century but the allowance has been created for road widening and up grades.
I have no idea on road boundary set backs related to State or National roads but some roads are governed by Councils but the road laws apply to all.
Having said that if your vehicle was parked not hindering traffic and you were a respectful distance from the bitumen road shoulder i doubt anyone would care.
 
Here’s an example of a wide verge between the road and property boundary which I would consider having a crack at.
I have seen many places like this that have leads adjacent or close by.
52C0A73E-50F4-40B5-A660-414AA5D2A098.png
 
Yeah, I know what you’re saying.... these spots are just mostly a curiosity on my way to and from the GT. Being from good old barren Adelaide, sometimes a quick comfort stop can lead to a last resort swing on the way home.
At least I can’t get lost....😁
 
Thanks for all your responses, its great to get everyone's differing opinions. My thoughts were mainly detecting along country dirt roads ( not national Highways) that have been graded over the years and the soil is just pushed up on the road reserve, as well as, access through properties where there is a dedicated roads which has never been constructed, virtually virgin areas.
 
Dusttodust said:
Thanks for all your responses, its great to get everyone's differing opinions. My thoughts were mainly detecting along country dirt roads ( not national Highways) that have been graded over the years and the soil is just pushed up on the road reserve, as well as, access through properties where there is a dedicated roads which has never been constructed, virtually virgin areas.
Click to expand...
Don't forget that in times of severe drought, country roadside areas are traditionally used as 'the long paddock' by graziers with no feed remaining on their property, who drive their flocks along them for weeks or months until rain comes again. Their overnight roadside campsites might turn up some interesting mementos while detecting.
 
grubstake said:
Don't forget that in times of severe drought, country roadside areas are traditionally used as 'the long paddock' by graziers with no feed remaining on their property, who drive their flocks along them for weeks or months until rain comes again. Their overnight roadside campsites might turn up some interesting mementos while detecting.
Click to expand...
The email from NSW Crown Lands included in the following post, appears to rule out my above post:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/nundle-nsw-information-and-questions.102/post-684113

NSW Crown Lands:
Local Land Services have confirmed that fossicking is not permitted on travelling stock reserves.
Click to expand...
 
Mackka said:
That would make sense because of the holes left by fossickers and the potential for livestock to break a leg .
Click to expand...
A requirement of fossicking is filling in holes.
Local Land Services (LLS) used to allow fossicking but like everything else we are being pushed out with the Green ideology. LLS is now another greenwashed government dept.
The hypocritical part is that apparently even panning in a creek is no good for the environment but running cattle in the same area with their hooves chewing up the banks is fine.
 

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