Using a dredge in Australia for recreational prospecting is illegal - information and questions

[cecc]

Hmmm Interesting the case, the argument from the prosecutions side is one of wildlife i.e. the fish and frogs, to me to put up an argument that dredging is harmful to these species you would think they would have to produce some proof, ie. how many fishes or frogs have met their demise by going through a dredge nozzle.

Imagine trying to record those sorts of stats, oh and the state officials say it stirs up toxic mercury mercury, gee am I missing something here, I wonder where their reports are on this, surely there must of been some sort of testing to raise these issues as arguments.

My question would be this, "If there is mercury in a creek, how much more is it made toxic by sitting there or being moved by someone digging and panning or a suction dredge"? I though mercury was only toxic when burnt etc.

It seems the one's asserting that these types of practices are harmful to the environment, are making unsubstantiated allegations, i.e where's the proof that one fish has been killed by a dredge.

Like here in QLD the presumption that some aspects of mining affects the, 'turbidity' of the water, is used as an argument against certain pieces of apparatus being used to fossick for gold. And our argument is, what about floods and the turbidity it causes in a creek, floods can change the course of a creek and deposit large pieces of fauna that none of could lift like large rocks and fallen trees etc.

Yeah Yobs I do too, there seems to be an element out there to try and get rid of us, they are called, "Greenies".

 

[dirtyharry]

I can remember fishing in Big River during the 80's & wondering why the water was slightly discoloured during the middle of summer
Around the next bend upstream i found a couple of guys dredging the river
They were on a large pool with the pontoon dredge anchored in the middle
The dredge was going flat out with a steady flow of tailings coming out of the sluice box
Trout were stacked up behind the dredge feasting on the bugs & insects being washed out
There must have been about 50 fish from 1lb to 6lb an amazing sight

The prospector on the bank showed me a glass jar half full of gold & claimed the river was very rich

Dredging in this instance certainly was not damaging the environment

Regards

Dirty Harry

 

[Tathradj]

All very valid points there people but the main reason was people using 6"Dredges to tear down Banks, Undermining trees and generally making a huge mess.
I have heard of an Old Timer around here and he still uses a 2"dredge.
Fully self supported, Not on a pension, Not greedy and when he has finished his days work, Cleans up that well you can not tell he was there after a couple of days.
No Body is worried about him. What I meant about greedy is he does not clean out a patch completely. He leaves enough for every one.
Yes, I know it is wrong but he is the epitome of a skilled operator and if every body would have followed his example, We would not have to worry about dredging being Banned.

 

[cecc]

Wow some good stories there DH and Tath, that bloke Tath sounds like a top bloke, and yes when you say that some were tearing down banks and undermining trees, you can just imagine how that would draw attention from the powers to be. Now that old timer is using wisdom, he's making a living, and at the same time not drawing any attention to his activities, and generous in leaving some gold for others, wow, what honor and respect....need more of that.

 

[yobskin]

I know this might sound silly but...cars pollute they cause accidents people get killed everyday by them....but we still use them they aren't outlawed.... why....because we have created laws and rules to regulate them so they get used safely.

 

[ben2363]

going to be used in private property on a dam before we all start the dredge debate....

any one know if the 1.5inch rato pump would run a 2inch dredge? only talking at like a depth of half metre to a metre slimes settling dam..

any info will help

 

[Tathradj]

Regardless whether it is on private property,
It is still illegal. ( Sorry, Had to put that in. )
I think the pump would be too small. but,
If you keep the hoses as short as possible especially the suction hose
and mount it on the riffle tray, It may work.
You have to have a high pressure at the venturi for
it to work. If you are only working fines, It would
have a fair chance.

 

[ben2363]

Tathradj i wasnt aware it was illegal on private property... 2 inch dredge would do a hell of less then my 30tonne digger would...
i seen theres a dredge in the US that uses a 1.5 inch suction nozzle any a 2.5hp pump in there combo thats why i thought my little 3hp might work..

 

[Tathradj]

We know about the issues with Excavation Cobber. LOL
Miners use Back Hoes,
We use picks and shovels.

 

[Old Fred]

A few years ago found a bit of colour leading into a dam on a station . Station owner decided it time to remove the sludge and mud from it with a 40 ton escavater and much of that went thru my sluice . We got some but not rich but had a hell of a good meal of redclaw .
If u think there is gold anywhere most land owners will dig a dam ,clean out a dam , remove top soil to build erosion barriers , flatern a area by levelling the top soil so future drilling can take place , divert water to help in flood situations . The property owner can be u best mate

 

[Eski]

Hi all , i know that dredging is illegal

I know it is a dirty word....

so what i'd like to know is the technical definition. (particularly in vic). i think what is illegal is a powered dredge or eductor dredge, but what if neither power or an eductor is used?

for example, what if a pump was used to supply watter to a trench above a creek, and a pick and shovel used to break ground beside the trench, then another trench would carry the material and water to a sluice box?

or what about using a few lengths of pipe and a hose on the suction end and a sluice box at the end of the pipe some call this a gravity dredge, but really its a syphon...

 

[AtomRat]

*grabs a box of popcorn*

 

[Tathradj]

Waiting......

 

[TTKooAu]

A dredge would shift material from the water source.
If I read correctly, you are only using the pump to provide water to a trench that feeds into a sluice. Sounds like the trench is going to get a little sloppy with all that water in there. Why not feed the water into the sluice and just shovel the trench material into the sluice....?

 

[blisters]

A gravity dredge would be illegal as it removes material from the creek which must be done by hand. I recall reading a report to parliament about dredging under a miners right in Victoria and there was a definition about what dredging was from the outcome of successful prosecution.

Whether you remove material either by water pressure or vacuum makes no difference it's still by mechanical means. Processing the material in a sluice by gravity wasn't illegal. Do a search for it if you can't find it I'll have a look after work it was done a while ago 80s or so.
Jon

 

[Bazz]

 

[yobskin]

Thought this was going to take off...Owell.

 

[Nanjim]

Making popcorn an... grabbing a beer a settling in to watch the show.....

 

[yobskin]

Ok i will start.....Eski what you have explained is basically hydraulic sluicing.....i have used rain and a race to do the same.

 

[Tathradj]

In essence,
What you are suggesting is illegal.
Full Stop.
If you were using a rocker box or river sluice and were loading material by hand and gravity feeding only water to it,
All Good.
If you are using a suction hose and sucking material off the bottom of a water body,
Illegal.
Summing up.
Things are bad enough for the honest people fossicking but that is one rule that makes it bad
and can not be bent or twisted.