Detecting Parks / Council Areas (SA) South Australia

Hey guys, didn't see an answer to my questions ( probably a post somewhere ) so here they are

I'm new to the hobby, from S.A

What are the laws on detecting in a park or council area, obviously they don't mind us detecting and walking around but when it comes to digging up a find even making a nice neat plug is this something we are allowed to do?

I don't want to be out at a park doing my thing one day to be chased off by an angry councilman LOL

Does anyone get people have a go at them for digging up the grass, even a neat plug to someone else may just look like a hole

So thought i better ask even tho i will still go

Weaman

Hi Weaman.

Not sure on SA but I assume similar to other states. Council owned areas are ok unless otherwise stated.
Some councils have banned detecting. They claim liability is the reason.
Start in areas at the edge of parks until you become more experienced cutting the turf. I never go onto sporting fields.

Here are a couple of other topics on parks and coin retrieval.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1286

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7600

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5454

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3734

Search youtube for coin popping. This guy is a bit long winded but explains some retrieval methods.

[video=480,360]https://youtu.be/YzEZNWMXKDE[/video]

Thanks Ramjet, your our man

Good info there, might have to call my local council but it should be fine from the sounds of things

Weaman

Weaman said:

Thanks Ramjet, your our man

Good info there, might have to call my local council but it should be fine from the sounds of things

Weaman

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If you ring the council, be aware that you are drawing undue attention, and are probably going to get the digging craters, human leg traps, liability, and fines spiel. Use common sense, and "plugs" make for ugly round patches of dead grass. Go with slits, or popping

Ok, so don't call the council , don't dig craters, leave it as i found it and if approached plead ignorance

i can do that

Might get myself a proper treasure/relic trowel or whatever its called over the normal garden one i have from bunnings, the bunnings one is ok but hacks the grass too much.

Weaman

Also check on this site for any heritage areas which do not allow excavation of any old coins/relics. You would be surprised at how many people unknowingly detect in such areas, some whole suburbs are listed (Colonel Light Gardens).

http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageSearchLocation.aspx

Weaman said:

Ok, so don't call the council , don't dig craters, leave it as i found it and if approached plead ignorance

Weaman

Click to expand...

Now ya thinking watch some vids.

Thanks Goldpick , Great link , the more i ask the more i learn

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I want to take my son out detecting in local parks but after reading through the local council by-laws I am none the wiser if we can or can't do it. I have the Mayor as a friend on FB so I have asked him directly if he knows what the go is and if we need a permit to do it. I think it will probably come down to purchasing a permit but I will wait to hear from the Mayor.

This'll be interesting, I wouldn't be putting a political mate on the spot myself, just in case he decides to make a bylaw that is not in anyones favor. :|

silver said:

This'll be interesting, I wouldn't be putting a political mate on the spot myself, just in case he decides to make a bylaw that is not in anyones favor. :|

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Who better to be able to tell me whether I can or can't detect in the local parks? Not trying to antagonise anyone just want to make sure I am doing it legally, after all I will have my 9 year old son with me and want to set a good example should a local ranger show up and ask me for our permit. I would like to be able to produce one and show my son the right way to go about it.

Well good news, I just heard from the Mayor and there is no by-law against detecting on Council parks and he gave it his full blessing. He even checked with the Rangers and they said no problems at all. Also he said if anyone objected I was to call him and he would sort it out. So pretty pleased with that, of course he did say don't go digging up the playing fields but that is something we wouldn't do anyway.

Top news Mav

Whew ! :lol: