DREDGING ON THE GOULBURN (Victoria)
Jan 7, 2014 15:24:31 GMT 12
Post by RKC on Jan 7, 2014 15:24:31 GMT 12
G'day,
DREDGING ON THE GOULBURN.
REPORT OF THE SLUDGE ABATEMENT
BOARD. 1907
The Sludge Abatement Board has presented
an important report to the Minister
of Mines on the subject of dredge mining
in the Goulburn River and its tributaries.
It states that when a dredge mining boom
occurred in 1899 a number of sites on,
the Upper Goulburn pegged out. Those
living down stream became alarmed at
the prospect of a pollution of the stream,
and, as a result of agitation, it was
decided for a time to issue no leases for
areas along the Goulburn River below
Jamieson, except under special circumstances,
nor on the Big River a tributary,
below Enoch's Point. About seven years
ago a pump hydraulic sluice plant worked
for a time on the Big River at Stockman's,
above Enoch's Point, and a bucket dredge
operated for a few months on the Goulburn River
upstream, from Darlingford. Since then, with the
exception of gravitation sluicing, which had been
carried on for 50 years, no dredging had been
done on the Goulburn River catchment
until recently, when the pump hydraulic
sluice plant operated on a river flat just
above Jamieson, and a similar one started
on Brankeet Creek, a tributary of the
Delatite which discharged into the Goulburn.
In July last year about 2O applications for
dredging leases on the
Goulburn and its tributaries had reached
the board, and in view of the long standing
objections a public enquiry was held
at Seymour. A tour of inspection was
made by the board and representatives of
three of the shires interested. Among
the evidence given in opposition was that
by introducing organic impurities into
the water "grave intestinal disorders,
such as diarrhoea and dysentery," would
probably be caused. One witness thought
that the setting free of "salts of gold",
would be a grave source of danger, and
he also apprehended danger from earth
movements, such as earth tremors or
earthquakes, seeing that they had had
such movements in the mountains. The
board, however, after having inspected
the dredge workings at Jamieson, and
Brankeet Creek, and the various rivers,
creeks, and watercourses in the Upper
Goulburn district, was satisfied that with
close supervision pump hydraulic sluice
operations, as regarded the settlement of
the sludge clear of the waterways, could
be carried out in a satisfactory manner,
and without causing damage. The board
therefore forwarded to the Minister the
following conclusions :
1. Where injury is likely to result or
has resulted, sluicing claims without
proper facilities for the settlement of
sludge must provide accommodation for
the retention of the material on their
claims or in the vicinity thereof.
2. Bucket dredges excluded in certain,
places from the main waterway with
ample reservations along each bank, and
where working fertile flats provided with
proper appliances for treating the tailing's
can be allowed to a limited extent.
Pump hydraulic sluices, with proper
management, and under strict supervision,
can be worked without injury to other
interests. Some of the farming witnesses
object to all discolouration, and apparently
would not be satisfied in summer
time with water almost clear, though,
compelled even where there is no mining
to use worse during winter and spring.
The board cannot recommend the extinction
of a valuable industry on account
of ill grounded objections by persons not
acquainted with the nature of the work,
many of whom would not, owing to
distance from the mines, be subject even,
to discolouration of water by their operations.
The works being carried out in
conformity with the plans and specifications
of the board under capable management,
and subject to strict and continuous,
supervision the board can see no reason
why applications for leases at Graytown,
Ghin Ghin, Tallangalook, Dry and Brankeet Creeks,
Big River and other tributaries
of the Goulburn, and on some of
the Goulburn flats, should not be dealt
with on their merits, and, begs to be recommended
accordingly.
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59589244
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
DREDGING ON THE GOULBURN.
REPORT OF THE SLUDGE ABATEMENT
BOARD. 1907
The Sludge Abatement Board has presented
an important report to the Minister
of Mines on the subject of dredge mining
in the Goulburn River and its tributaries.
It states that when a dredge mining boom
occurred in 1899 a number of sites on,
the Upper Goulburn pegged out. Those
living down stream became alarmed at
the prospect of a pollution of the stream,
and, as a result of agitation, it was
decided for a time to issue no leases for
areas along the Goulburn River below
Jamieson, except under special circumstances,
nor on the Big River a tributary,
below Enoch's Point. About seven years
ago a pump hydraulic sluice plant worked
for a time on the Big River at Stockman's,
above Enoch's Point, and a bucket dredge
operated for a few months on the Goulburn River
upstream, from Darlingford. Since then, with the
exception of gravitation sluicing, which had been
carried on for 50 years, no dredging had been
done on the Goulburn River catchment
until recently, when the pump hydraulic
sluice plant operated on a river flat just
above Jamieson, and a similar one started
on Brankeet Creek, a tributary of the
Delatite which discharged into the Goulburn.
In July last year about 2O applications for
dredging leases on the
Goulburn and its tributaries had reached
the board, and in view of the long standing
objections a public enquiry was held
at Seymour. A tour of inspection was
made by the board and representatives of
three of the shires interested. Among
the evidence given in opposition was that
by introducing organic impurities into
the water "grave intestinal disorders,
such as diarrhoea and dysentery," would
probably be caused. One witness thought
that the setting free of "salts of gold",
would be a grave source of danger, and
he also apprehended danger from earth
movements, such as earth tremors or
earthquakes, seeing that they had had
such movements in the mountains. The
board, however, after having inspected
the dredge workings at Jamieson, and
Brankeet Creek, and the various rivers,
creeks, and watercourses in the Upper
Goulburn district, was satisfied that with
close supervision pump hydraulic sluice
operations, as regarded the settlement of
the sludge clear of the waterways, could
be carried out in a satisfactory manner,
and without causing damage. The board
therefore forwarded to the Minister the
following conclusions :
1. Where injury is likely to result or
has resulted, sluicing claims without
proper facilities for the settlement of
sludge must provide accommodation for
the retention of the material on their
claims or in the vicinity thereof.
2. Bucket dredges excluded in certain,
places from the main waterway with
ample reservations along each bank, and
where working fertile flats provided with
proper appliances for treating the tailing's
can be allowed to a limited extent.
Pump hydraulic sluices, with proper
management, and under strict supervision,
can be worked without injury to other
interests. Some of the farming witnesses
object to all discolouration, and apparently
would not be satisfied in summer
time with water almost clear, though,
compelled even where there is no mining
to use worse during winter and spring.
The board cannot recommend the extinction
of a valuable industry on account
of ill grounded objections by persons not
acquainted with the nature of the work,
many of whom would not, owing to
distance from the mines, be subject even,
to discolouration of water by their operations.
The works being carried out in
conformity with the plans and specifications
of the board under capable management,
and subject to strict and continuous,
supervision the board can see no reason
why applications for leases at Graytown,
Ghin Ghin, Tallangalook, Dry and Brankeet Creeks,
Big River and other tributaries
of the Goulburn, and on some of
the Goulburn flats, should not be dealt
with on their merits, and, begs to be recommended
accordingly.
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59589244
Regards,
Rob (RKC)