Simmo said:
I think you would find that people like Goldhounds are part of the reason for complaints by small miners, to ask the Association to act on their behalf.
Can't comment on that Simmo. Hopefully they're not encroaching on people's Mining Leases!
Putting exclusions (without a fair permission system like WA's 40e) on exploration leases can be a double edged sword.
Large companies can lock up large areas of ground under the guise of exploration while doing very little as evidenced by a lot of the mostly rehashed compulsory exploration reports I've read - change of date & box ticked. When this occurs it can lock not only detectorists/prospectors out of areas but also small scale miners. Money talks.
I support small scale miners wanting to have a better system of access onto their exploration leases but it needs to be done fairly. Obviously they should maintain the right to refuse access on Mining Leases & get better support in policing that.
In NSW outside of Fossicking Districts EL holders can refuse permission to detect/prospect without giving any reason - just a flat no, bugger off. To me that is unfair especially where large companies are doing SFA in the area themselves.