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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:04:26 GMT 12
From: russ39 (Original Message) Sent: 22/10/2008 10:56 p.m.
Hi guys,
Dunedin guy here wanting to try out some new gear. Any ideas where one can go handy to town to get a bit of colour?Taieri river is about the closest but is there any colour in it? Any help appreciated.
Russell
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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:05:52 GMT 12
From: RKCNZ Sent: 23/10/2008 11:55 a.m.
G'day Russel ( russ39 ),
Its would not be advisable for anyone to suggest, in a public forum, an Otago river to go to for dredging ... because its in your interest, as various problems could arise for you if it was known where you would be dredging. If a forum member would like to suggest a river they would be best to do it by contacting you via email.
I can suggest an area near Dunedin where you should not go. The river catchment for the Dunedin water supply should be avoided. Its well known there is good gold in there and in the 90s a group of dredgers applied for a Mining Permit so they could dredge, but their application was refused because its a sensitive area for water supply. And anyway its probably a river on the Otago Regional Council list of waterways where suction dredging is prohibited. I attempted to find the list but had no luck. I did however find the following in the ORC Water Plan which relates to what I refered to in an earlier post about Permitted Activity dredging in Otago:
13.5.1.7 Suction dredge mining within the bed of a river is a permitted activity
providing:
(a) The internal diameter of the nozzle does not exceed 150 mm; and
(b) The mining activity does not occur in those rivers, or parts of
rivers, listed in Schedule 7 during any identified time period; and
(c) The mining activity is not carried out within 20 metres of any
structure which has foundations in the river bed, or any ford or
pipeline; and
(d) The activity does not cause any flooding or erosion; and
(e) No refuelling is carried out while the dredge is within the wet bed
of the river unless an effective spill tray has been installed; and
(f) The area dredged lies within the wet bed of the river, and no
material is removed from within or under the banks of the river;
and
(g) No suction dredge is operated within 500 metres of another
dredge; and
(h) No explosives or earthmoving machinery apart from the dredge is
used to move material in the river bed; and
(i) Any rocks moved to allow suction dredging to occur are returned
as close as possible to the site from which they were removed; and
(j) There is no conspicuous change in the colour or visual clarity of
the water body beyond a distance of 100 metres downstream of
the point of discharge of the dredge; and
(k) No lawful take of water is adversely affected as a result of the bed
disturbance.
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:09:16 GMT 12
From: russ39 Sent: 23/10/2008 11:53 p.m.
Well umm sorry if I have tread on thin ice regarding where to go, maybe it would be better to state where no to go. There was some rumor around a while back about the council having a few reserves for recreational miners, I know the verterburn was one but cant remember the others. Did anything ever come of it?
I've never had any issues about dredging anywhere with anybody so didn't really assume it was wrong to do. I suppose the powers that be must want there license fee or something?Has anyone ever been prosecuted for dredging apart from land access issues etc?
All new to this site so I guess I"ll learn a bit as I go along. Any other things I shouldn't do? Is there ways to email people on here to get some info.
Anyway have a new dredge to test out over the weekend so hope its fine. Have moved up from 4 inch to 5 with an extra motor so hoping all works well.
Anyway thanks for the info guys,
Russell
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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:10:36 GMT 12
From: Dredgeotago1 Sent: 24/10/2008 12:22 a.m. Hi Russ, Spots to test in Dunedin: A) Silverstream, at the bridge in puddle alley. You can drive off the road and into a sort of rest area type place. You need a bit of water there though. B) Henley boat ramp on a bad day (so you don't get laughed at by boaties) make sure its when tide is going out to avoid salt water through the pump. C) Waipori river there are bound to be more spots. I don't live in Dunedin anymore but you should go to the following map and make sure none of the above is claimed, even for testing: data.crownminerals.govt.nz/permitwebmaps/default.aspx?commodity=mineralsIf i was to go testing a dredge for flotation, balance, & suction i would leave matting and riffles at home. That way your not looking for gold and would be genuinely testing a dredge I knew someone in a similar position to yourself and was accidental dredging in someones claim! Not a good look and pretty embarrassing. They above link should help you steer clear of that. Cheers Dan |
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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:14:03 GMT 12
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Post by RKC on Nov 14, 2008 13:15:34 GMT 12
From: RKCNZ Sent: 24/10/2008 3:51 p.m.
G'day Russ ( russ39 ),
I took a copy from one of my previous posts on another forum which might explain more about the need to keep quiet about where you intend to dredge.
... , eductor dredging is legal in New Zealand. Professional dredging is reasonably well provided for under the present mining laws ... the main complaint the professionals have however is that the compliance costs (government charges) are far too high for such a low impact mining method. It costs many thousands of dollars to establish a reasonable sized claim in New Zealand.
The recreational dredgers have it a more difficult. There was an acknowledgement some years back by government that a new system should be introduced to cater specifically for the special needs of the recreationalists which are very different needs from what the professionals require in the form of regulations. The Crown Minerals Division of The Ministry of Economic Development ("Mines Dept") first investigated introducing a licence system in NZ similar to what was in use in Victoria during the 1980s ... but after closely examining this proposal it was rejected as unworkable (a very good decision ... in my opinion). Then they investigated introducing a claim system similar to the present claim system except to reduce the fees payable and significantly simplifying the application process. They very closly investigated such a recreational claim system over a number of years (everything goes slowly in NZ) and it was found to be workable, except on the aspect of getting access through private property to the rivers. The issue of access is a complex one and there is leglisation soon to go before parliment to make it possible for people to pass through private land (with conditions). So, hopefully there may be another attempt to introduce a recreational claim in the future.
It was intended that the introduction of an recreational claim would NOT replace the present claim system utilized by professionals; there would have been both a recreational AND professional claim system operating. The main difference between the two would have been in the sizes of dredges used.
Presently recreational dredgers work "illegally", or on established claims. There have been a few prosecutions of recreational dredgers in recent years ... the prosecutions were justified as they were dredging either without permission on legal claims owned by others or on a tourist hand-fossicking-only claim.
There have been some claims established in recent years with the intention of providing dredging opertunities for overseas tourists. And all the well run claims seem to be working well.
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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