Teemore
One foot out the door
I doubt that you can legally prospect anywhere in the Ararat parkland. It isn't mentioned in the official list here:
https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/licensing-approvals/fossicking/where-you-can-prospect-and-fossickView attachment 6349
Parks Victoria has heaps of info on the Ararat Regional Park, but there's no mention of prospecting, so it's safe to assume that it's not a permitted use for the area:
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/ararat-regional-park
Another take on this is that it says "have designated areas" .... meaning you can only prospect I'm those designated areas, the other areas being off limits ..... parks not mentioned are not subject to any "designated" areas so prospecting is allowed in the whole of the park. Think all Victorians know tat prospecting is allowed in Ararat Regional Park.