Victoria's New Gold Prospecting Laws Are Shocking...

#victoria #gold #goldprospecting
Australia's goldfields have been a source of wealth, adventure, and heritage for generations, but recent changes to Victoria’s prospecting laws are shaking up this treasured tradition. New restrictions under Section 7 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 have imposed significant limits on where prospectors and small-scale gold miners can legally search for gold. Areas that were once freely accessible are now classified as "S7 exempt," blocking access to the very lands that built Australia’s legacy as a gold-rich nation.

For recreational prospectors and small-scale miners, these new laws are a devastating blow. The dream of venturing into the bush, swinging a detector, or panning in a creek is now a legal minefield, with significant portions of Victoria’s iconic goldfields declared off-limits. This decision not only impacts those hoping to strike it lucky but also undermines the cultural and historical connection many Australians feel to the land.

In this video, we’ll uncover the full story behind these restrictive changes, how they’re affecting prospectors, and the deeper implications for the small-scale mining community.

Here's some more reading for those who need it regarding the laws and legislation:
If you scroll down to the bottom of the Vic Resources Government website, under the list of Prohibited Crown Land, this is what is written. The section that applies to S7 is the very last line.
"Prohibited Crown land is land where recreational prospecting is banned and includes land that is:"

The line referring to S7 is:
"an area exempted from recreational prospecting or an extractive industry or otherwise exempted under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 or any other Act."
https://resources.vic.gov.au/licensin...

The Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 is S7.
https://resources.vic.gov.au/licensin...

Here's the section that forbids it under the act. Scroll down to page 157.
https://content.legislation.vic.gov.a...

Under Part 5, Division 1 on page 157, regarding recreational fossicking it is explicitly stated that such rights do not apply to land exempted under Section 7 unless specifically included. The section that states it says the following:

Miner's right
(1) A miner's right entitles the holder to search for minerals on any of the following land, unless the
land is covered by a mining licence, prospecting
licence or retention licence—
(a) private land, but only with the consent of the
owner or occupier; and
(b) Crown land (other than land exempted under
section 6, 6A or 7 of this Act or nominated under section 7(1) of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978).

The "and" is a very important part of this, as it means both conditions must be true. If you own private land, but it falls under S7, prospecting and mining is forbidden unless an exemption is granted to you by the minister.

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