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Post by RKC on Jun 12, 2009 11:14:09 GMT 12
Review of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (Victoria, Australia) The Victorian State government has announced a review of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 and is asking for submissions from interested parties. I am mentioning it here because the Prospectors and Miners Assoc of Victoria ( www.pmav.asn.au/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 ) are presently preparing a submission on behalf of the small scale mining sector of Victoria. It might be a good chance for the issue of eductor dredging to be raised again and I would suggest that any Australian dredgers who want to make a submission about eductor dredging contact the PMAV for further information ( Submissions must be received by close of business 26 June 2009 ). Review of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 – Release of Issues Paper tinyurl.com/mvool8An issues paper on the review of the MRSDA tinyurl.com/issuespaperRegards, Rob (RKC) |
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Post by roscoe on Jun 12, 2009 12:59:24 GMT 12
Ah, another review. I wonder if they will trot out the same old furphies to block eductor dredging. Y`know, turbidity, felling trees, causing erosion, giving trout headaches, murdering yabby eggs, etc., etc. When department recommedations ignore not only their own selected experts, but world-wide reviews, you eventually realise that truth has no place in government decisions. Wonder if they learnt anything from the devastating bushfires of a few months back?
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Post by RKC on Jun 12, 2009 13:28:14 GMT 12
G'day Roscoe,
Send a submission in anyway ... even if just to let them know the issue of eductor dredging has not gone away!
This is the first complete review in nearly 20 years and what is decided upon will probably be around for the coming 20 years!
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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Post by RKC on Jun 12, 2009 13:51:55 GMT 12
G'day Roscoe,
In the Victorian State government document titled "Assessing Mining Proposals" it has the following to say about eductor dredging "Eductor dredging uses a portable suction device mounted on a foating barge to recover gold from the beds of streams and rivers by a gravity separation process. It is government policy not to grant mining or exploration approvals for eductor dredging in Victoria. However, mining operations using suction dredge plant foating in a constructed pond can be approved". Before anything else, the authorities need to stop misrepresenting eductor dredging by recognising that its a ridiculous notion that eductor dredging can actually be carried out if tailing's are contained in a settling pond.
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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Post by roscoe on Jun 12, 2009 17:52:22 GMT 12
Not only is the idea of a 'pond' a misnomer, Rob, but get the subtle way they implant an impression in the minds of folk unfamiliar with eductor dredging by calling flotation a 'barge'. Now what springs to mind when the average Joe Blow thinks of 'barge'? Straightaway the vision of a big, oily, messy boat would probably be conjured up. Maybe we can counter with a piccy of, say, a three inch decked out with flags, streamers and balloons? ;D
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Post by roscoe on Jun 13, 2009 11:56:28 GMT 12
Wonder if PMAV or any dredgers ever submitted before-and-after pics of the damage done by floods in a dredgeable stream? Might show the negligible harm caused by eductor dredging compared with Mother Nature. Also the fact that heavily dredged rivers like the Goulburn are o.k. today.
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Post by Dredger89 on Jun 13, 2009 19:21:19 GMT 12
If only the DPI would compare the pristine (heavily dredged) Big River with the totally destroyed McAllister River (June 2007 flood).
In the last dredging inquiry i submitted photos of some large scale erosion caused by stock on private property adjacent to a river. It was quite like a Hydraulic mining pit. It is quite common in Victoria, farmland right up to river bank and stock wearing little mud trails down to the stream. They replied that farming practise had improved and this was no longer the case. I know that that this continues even now, and even at the location the photos were submitted. I also stated that erosion caused by natural flooding was far worse than any mining operation, there answer on that was that dredge tailings are more prone to erosion in a flood?
I'm not sure the review of the mining act would allow for easy access to minerals for individuals. They seem to be only interested in allowing large foreign companies to mine our gold.
Don't think they would even contemplate allowing eductor dredging as panning and sluicing is heavily frowned upon with their National parks, Heritage Rivers and Exempted Stream acts prohibiting in stream mining in all but Sovereign Hill panning pond.
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Post by RKC on Jun 15, 2009 14:26:40 GMT 12
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Post by RKC on Jun 20, 2009 13:05:35 GMT 12
G'day Australian dredgers,
I have just sent away my submission to the review of the mining regs in Victoria.
There are only a few days left to make a submission. If you don't want to write out an involved submission, just an email to state that you support the reintoduction of dredging into Victoria would be enough. Send submissions to MRSDA.review@dpi.vic.gov.au
Regards,
Rob (RKC)
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