Teemore
One foot out the door
So we've all seen the "Compliance Priority" indicating that Highbanking is illegal in NSW.
In my reading of their Regulations/Act in regard to "fossicking" I couldn't really find a definition of a high banker or high banking as a process, thought I'd write to them to see what they say a high banker actually is, will be interesting to see what response it gets.
FYI the address I used (only one I could find) was
[email protected]
If they get enough similar queries it may get them to think about what they're doing (or not), perhaps ask similar question of them to flood them with queries (don't copy it word for word, they get sick of that and just ignore them all)
Just my little bit to help our NSW neighbours.
Cheers T.
Im a Victorian based amateur prospector/fossicker occasionally travelling to/through Central West NSW to undertake a few days of prospecting for gold.
My methods include both metal detecting with an electronic metal detector and where there is access, a stream sluice for use within the waterway or a battery driven pump to provide water flow for what is generically called a Highbanker.
Recent knowledge of a publication Compliance Priorities July - Dec 2017 (RMB reference PUB17/447) makes specific mention of Illegal Fossicking (Sector Fossicking, Period Sept - Nov. 2017), I am now somewhat concerned as to what a can and cant legally do in relation to in stream/streamside prospecting/fossicking.
To ensure my compliance can you please provide and confirm precisely what your interpretations are of:-
Exactly what do you deem to be a Highbanker, I assume there must be a definition detailing exactly what a highbanker actually is to enable enforcement officers to determine that an alleged offender is actually using one.
Exactly what you deem to be the actual process and method of highbanking.
Exactly where the use of such a devise is deemed illegal, would this include its use on private property (i.e. a campground or ratepayer backyard).
Exactly what you deem to be a sluice, essentially the same as a highbanker but powered by water flow directly from a watercourse rather than a battery/petrol driven pump, again I assume there should be a definition within within the relevant act.
Exactly what is meant by a Compliance Priority .
As the Compliance Priority makes reference specifically to Highbanking can I safely assume that sluicing, where all other aspects/references to the relevant Act are in compliance, is a legal pastime that will not be prosecuted.
I was led to believe that till now highbanking had been deemed a legitimate form of prospecting/fossicking for gold. There now appears to be a change in interpretation can you provide any reason for this departmental shift in interpretation/compliance/enforcement.
I further note that although the overall Compliance Priorities are relevant to a July - Dec 2017 period those specific to Illegal Fossicking make mention of a Sept. to Dec. 2017 timeframe.
Is this to indicate that come the end of the compliance period you intend to revert to the previous application whereby highbanking was deemed an acceptable form of prospecting/fossicking.
Await you responses to ensure my travels and fossicking experience within NSW are within your sometimes confusing regulations.
Regards
Tom Mohr
In my reading of their Regulations/Act in regard to "fossicking" I couldn't really find a definition of a high banker or high banking as a process, thought I'd write to them to see what they say a high banker actually is, will be interesting to see what response it gets.
FYI the address I used (only one I could find) was
[email protected]
If they get enough similar queries it may get them to think about what they're doing (or not), perhaps ask similar question of them to flood them with queries (don't copy it word for word, they get sick of that and just ignore them all)
Just my little bit to help our NSW neighbours.
Cheers T.
Im a Victorian based amateur prospector/fossicker occasionally travelling to/through Central West NSW to undertake a few days of prospecting for gold.
My methods include both metal detecting with an electronic metal detector and where there is access, a stream sluice for use within the waterway or a battery driven pump to provide water flow for what is generically called a Highbanker.
Recent knowledge of a publication Compliance Priorities July - Dec 2017 (RMB reference PUB17/447) makes specific mention of Illegal Fossicking (Sector Fossicking, Period Sept - Nov. 2017), I am now somewhat concerned as to what a can and cant legally do in relation to in stream/streamside prospecting/fossicking.
To ensure my compliance can you please provide and confirm precisely what your interpretations are of:-
Exactly what do you deem to be a Highbanker, I assume there must be a definition detailing exactly what a highbanker actually is to enable enforcement officers to determine that an alleged offender is actually using one.
Exactly what you deem to be the actual process and method of highbanking.
Exactly where the use of such a devise is deemed illegal, would this include its use on private property (i.e. a campground or ratepayer backyard).
Exactly what you deem to be a sluice, essentially the same as a highbanker but powered by water flow directly from a watercourse rather than a battery/petrol driven pump, again I assume there should be a definition within within the relevant act.
Exactly what is meant by a Compliance Priority .
As the Compliance Priority makes reference specifically to Highbanking can I safely assume that sluicing, where all other aspects/references to the relevant Act are in compliance, is a legal pastime that will not be prosecuted.
I was led to believe that till now highbanking had been deemed a legitimate form of prospecting/fossicking for gold. There now appears to be a change in interpretation can you provide any reason for this departmental shift in interpretation/compliance/enforcement.
I further note that although the overall Compliance Priorities are relevant to a July - Dec 2017 period those specific to Illegal Fossicking make mention of a Sept. to Dec. 2017 timeframe.
Is this to indicate that come the end of the compliance period you intend to revert to the previous application whereby highbanking was deemed an acceptable form of prospecting/fossicking.
Await you responses to ensure my travels and fossicking experience within NSW are within your sometimes confusing regulations.
Regards
Tom Mohr