Marked said:
To be honest, this all could be just a storm in a tea cup...They want to legislate to ban something that is already banned from what I can gather...That is not to say that we shouldn't be endeavouring to enlighten them on their misconceptions in order to get them to concentrate their efforts in Government on issues that really will make a difference, rather than wasting our tax dollars on non-issues such as this.
Just to recap for those that want a simple summation
1. The Vic government on recommendation from an independent report from the Veac is tabling legislation to allow additional areas in National parks in Victoria, but to ban the use of sluices in existing areas of the national parks we can currently prospect in. Hand tools, pans and detectors only. The amount of material that can be dug reduces to 1m cubed.
2. Misinformation on sluicing is being disseminated by various groups surrounding the use of sluices and methods of prospecting.
3. The use of sluices in all other areas that currently are accessable outside the NPs are expected to continue. This is based on the fact it is beyond the scope of the terms of reference by the report and hopefully any legislation to be tabled in parliament.
4. The report did mention state parks and is not addressed in the government response.
5. If the legislation is passed it is subject to a review of the areas in a years time from the access being granted where further reports will be written assessing the impact on the additional areas opened up to prospecting.
So its not as dire as packing away the sluice or highbanker if it goes through, but it will take away the right to do it in places we already can. I would suggest this is the tip of the iceberg, especially in examining the Veacs position on recreational prospecting drawn from their reports conclusions. It may be a small change, but a significant one, it takes rights away that already exist, to sluice or highbank, and quantifying the amount that can be dug.
I personally can't see why they didn't just purpose to make the new areas open with the restrictions, and left the rest alone.