Prosecuted for dredging in the Meroo River NSW - fined $2500

[jimnyjerry]

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Rural Crime - NSW Police Force
2 hrs

Mining without Authorisation in Mudgee - 35 year old Parkes man fined $2,500.

On 6 June 2018, NSW Fisheries officers were patrolling the Meroo River and observed a floating dredge in the centre of the watercourse. The dredge was equipped with a petrol motor, sluice and various intake and outlet lines. The sighting of the dredge was reported to the Resources Regulator and NSW Police.

On 7 June 2018, the Mudgee Rural Crime Investigator attended the same location and observed a male person using the powered operated dredge to mine for gold in the watercourse.

On 26 July 2018, NSW Police again observed the same male person using the dredge in the watercourse unlawfully.

The Meroo River at Avisford is in the Mid-Western Regional Local Government Area and is located approximately 35km west of Mudgee. The river is a perennial watercourse and is a tributary of the Cudgegong River.

A 35-year-old Parkes man has been issued with a $2,500 penalty notice for the offence of mining or prospecting without authorisation.

A prohibition notice has also been issued to the man ordering him to discontinue illegal fossicking using power operated equipment in NSW.

The Mining Laws

Illegal fossicking and illegal mining are serious offences under the Mining Act 1992 and carry penalties of up to $1.1 million.

Should you observe illegal fossicking or illegal mining please report it to the Resources Regulator on 1300 814 609.

What techniques cannot be used for fossicking?

Neither explosives nor dredges can be used in fossicking.

Power-operated equipment cannot be used on land or in waters for surface disturbance, excavation or processing. Power operated equipment includes mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, battery and electrical equipment or machinery.

If you would like more information about what you can and cannot do in terms of Fossicking in NSW, you will find it here: https://fpos.fcnsw.com.au/A-Guide-to-Fossicking-in-New-Sout

 

[7.62marksman]

About time erfect: erfect:

 

[jimnyjerry]

Here is the pic of the setup

 

[DrDuck]

Just saw this on the NSW Police rural crime page -

Mining without Authorisation in Mudgee - 35 year old Parkes man fined $2,500.

On 6 June 2018, NSW Fisheries officers were patrolling the Meroo River and observed a floating dredge in the centre of the watercourse. The dredge was equipped with a petrol motor, sluice and various intake and outlet lines. The sighting of the dredge was reported to the Resources Regulator and NSW Police.

On 7 June 2018, the Mudgee Rural Crime Investigator attended the same location and observed a male person using the powered operated dredge to mine for gold in the watercourse.

On 26 July 2018, NSW Police again observed the same male person using the dredge in the watercourse unlawfully.

The Meroo River at Avisford is in the Mid-Western Regional Local Government Area and is located approximately 35km west of Mudgee. The river is a perennial watercourse and is a tributary of the Cudgegong River.

A 35-year-old Parkes man has been issued with a $2,500 penalty notice for the offence of mining or prospecting without authorisation.

A prohibition notice has also been issued to the man ordering him to discontinue illegal fossicking using power operated equipment in NSW.

The Mining Laws

Illegal fossicking and illegal mining are serious offences under the Mining Act 1992 and carry penalties of up to $1.1 million.

Should you observe illegal fossicking or illegal mining please report it to the Resources Regulator on 1300 814 609.

What techniques cannot be used for fossicking?

Neither explosives nor dredges can be used in fossicking.

Power-operated equipment cannot be used on land or in waters for surface disturbance, excavation or processing. Power operated equipment includes mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, battery and electrical equipment or machinery.

If you would like more information about what you can and cannot do in terms of Fossicking in NSW, you will find it here: https://fpos.fcnsw.com.au/A-Guide-to-Fossicking-in-New-South-Wales.PDF

 

[7.62marksman]

That is one big setup

 

[jimnyjerry]

"On 7 June 2018, the Mudgee Rural Crime Investigator attended the same location and observed a male person using the powered operated dredge to mine for gold in the watercourse.

On 26 July 2018, NSW Police again observed the same male person using the dredge in the watercourse unlawfully."

Why did the police give him over a month of dredging time?

 

[7.62marksman]

So he can get the money to pay the fine ] ]

 

[Wally69]

Probably took them over a month to come up with an interpretation of the regulations.

 

[aussiefarmer]

erfect:

 

[moeee]

No mention of having illegal equipment confiscated ?
No mention of anything the first time he was seen and that led to him getting back out there.

EDIT : Can't believe how much support this Dredger received and how much the authorities were bagged

https://www.facebook.com/RuralCrime...be2DoREENUC0Fvy28yR__s2Ws&fref=nf&__tn__=kC-R

 

[Bjay]

No mention of having illegal equipment confiscated ?
No mention of anything the first time he was seen and that led to him getting back out there.

EDIT : Can't believe how much support this Dredger received and how much the authorities were bagged

https://www.facebook.com/RuralCrime...be2DoREENUC0Fvy28yR__s2Ws&fref=nf&__tn__=kC-R

Unfortunately authorities do not have to much authority now days.

 

[mbasko]

"On 7 June 2018, the Mudgee Rural Crime Investigator attended the same location and observed a male person using the powered operated dredge to mine for gold in the watercourse.

On 26 July 2018, NSW Police again observed the same male person using the dredge in the watercourse unlawfully."

Why did the police give him over a month of dredging time?

Reported on the 6th. Observed by police on the 7th. Observed & obviously given the penalty notice on the 26th.
Possibly waiting on an interpretation of the legislation from the Resource Regulator? Doubtful.
More likely he was given a warning & verbally told to desist on the 7th then found back there again on the 26th then fined formally. Been talk of a few warnings being given around the general Central West area over the last few years - seems there might be more than rumour to them now?
If he's caught again I bet the "penalty notice" is a bit more than a slap on the wrist "A prohibition notice has also been issued to the man ordering him to discontinue illegal fossicking using power operated equipment in NSW."

 

[Smoky bandit]

So took over 2 months to get charged ...and by who.

 

[Matt80]

"A prohibition notice has also been issued to the man ordering him to discontinue illegal fossicking using power operated equipment in NSW."

Um what's that point of a prohibition notice for something that's already completed prohibited?

As much as lm on the fence about if dredging should or shouldn't be legal, lm honestly a bit annoyed the guy didn't get a more severe fine. Seems like he had been at it awhile and if it was a decent spot he probably easily made enough to pay the fine so not really going to discourage others much.

The last thing we need is people screwing things up even more for the rest of us.

 

[mbasko]

Being issued with the Prohibition Notice gives the Regulator fair scope to fully prosecute the offender under the law if he does it again.
If caught again he'll be in a bit more strife than a $2500 fine I would imagine. The Penalty Notice was just a warning slap IMO.
Regulators give these notices out to mostly companies & individuals all the time. It's how they aim to get compliance to legislation prior to harsher enforcement like prosecution.
P.s I agree - I reckon the fine was too lean but then it doesn't mention if or what equipment they may have confiscated. Could have been a costly day if they took all his gear too?

 

[shakergt]

Serves him right

 

[mbasko]

It took 19 days to get the penalty notice/fine?
It seems to me he was likely given a verbal warning on the 7th then caught again on the 26th so was given the penalty notice/fine + a Prohibition Notice (would have been from the Resource Regulator).
Appears to me the Police & Resource Regulator have given this bloke a couple of chances.
Now he has a Prohibition Notice I don't think he'll be so lucky next time. Might find himself right in the oop: if caught again.

 

[Guest]

Why didn't they confiscate the dredge? These illegal operations need much harsher fines.
I've been panning for a while and I have seen the big water holes they leave behind and it takes some big floods to get them covered up.

 

[Eldorado]

It took 19 days to get the penalty notice/fine?
It seems to me he was likely given a verbal warning on the 7th then caught again on the 26th so was given the penalty notice/fine + a Prohibition Notice (would have been from the Resource Regulator).
Appears to me the Police & Resource Regulator have given this bloke a couple of chances.
Now he has a Prohibition Notice I don't think he'll be so lucky next time. Might find himself right in the oop: if caught again.

It was the 26th of July mbasko,6 weeks after first being spotted.

 

[AngerManagement]

FB is very antsy establishment as posters can hide.... Rangers / Police any one of Authority or doing the right thing and you are fair game..

I may not agree with some or all sections, but play by the rules and dabble in the gray and accept that warnings or there are outcomes if you start breaching / breaking them.

Was chatting to some rangers and they have to be in pairs now and OR in the company of police, if they approach campers or people doing stupid shit in National parks.

They take pics and regos and get evidence, but they have been attacked and abused so often that they are very careful as to who they approach. As he said to me, in most cases just a warning may be issued as some do not know, but these days people just arc up and get all agro. So now they issue the fines by mail and just clean up the mess afterwards...

As per usual, only takes a few Aholes to mess it up for every one..