Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Victoria. 29 / 12 / 16

Well fellow Members, they are at it again. This time it is Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Victoria.

https://engage.vic.gov.au/native-vegetation-review

The above Department has released their proposed amendments to the current Government Biodiversity Regulations, with a clause added, asking you the stake holders, to make submissions on any proposed changes that directly affect you.

Note: Submissions close at 5:00pm AEST on 5th February 2017

The initial Web site, takes you to a paper that then directs you to a choice of 3 other related sites with-in the department. Each one of these sites has multiple off-shoot links, but eventually one will lead you to the Document Library where you will find a choice of 6 Downloads.
Some of these are multi page booklets up to 1.5 MB.

However, after browsing through the top 4, you find that only the last 2 Docs are relevant, that is to having an actual say in the process, or even thinking you can influence their outcome, ahem, all before these draft amendments are voted into law.

It would appear to me, the overall outcome of this process is already signed and sealed, there they are in all their glory, the new rules already typed up in fancy glossy booklets, and enough other associated paperwork to sink a ship. Surely this is just about keeping all those paper shufflers in city offices, from becoming bored and fabricating paper planes etc.

Here is something else to ponder on, if you are applying for a mining claim and in due process you have to advertise your intentions in the newspaper, as required by law. The Department clearly states that this Public Notification is NOT to be advertised over a Holiday period.

Now isn’t that strange that the Department of Biodiversity has done the exact opposite to this. Could this be to perhaps by-pass people spending time on their annual leave, that maybe their minds will be elsewhere, perchance thinking of Family, or away on Vacation, trips etc.

That leaves much less time to be tied down with this gobbledygook, and less chance of lots of submissions rolling in. Members should have a read of the ludicrous “proposals”

A mining friend has told me of a ruling he has received in regards to a lone gum tree on his proposed mining claim. He has been directed by Biodiversity, that no machinery is to driven within so many metres of its base, fair enough you may think?

But what if they direct you also as they have, to not even walk within this boundary, you cannot go up on foot and hug the tree, even kiss it, or anything else.

Members this is the sort of bl00dy mindedness we have to put up with, does this mean in the future, that anyone, (That means You), cannot walk, sit, or picnic under a tree?? Especially in a National Park ehh?

Detector operators, don’t think these new rules will not apply to us, look at the proposed Heritage Parks that are next on their agenda, they will include the Central Gold Fields.

Even our local Mayor here in Maryborough is setting up a Steering Committee with other Councillors from Bendigo and Ballarat.

It’s more than the thin end of the wedge, things are on the move!

Do you want to let these green zealots have their way, without so much as a whimper from the detectorist / miner?

Concerned Member. Ozgold.

Quote: Ozgold what do you know about this :- Even our local Mayor here in Maryborough is setting up a Steering Committee with other Councillors from Bendigo and Ballarat.
wombat.
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Hi Bill.

With your question about our local situation, there was a council report in our Maryborough Advertiser newspaper over the last few weeks.

There had been a motion put forward about this new parks push and our new Mayor was very enthusiastic to start up a Steering Committee, and of course the motion was carried.

How these representatives of the Central Goldfields Shire, delude themselves in their wishful thinking, that by the creation of these New Heritage Parks which are (covering the majority of old gold workings and surrounds), therefore the surrounding towns will prosper.

Hopefully or even thinking this will suddenly create thousands of tourists into visiting these areas and creating local jobs (Whereas it will no doubt be locked up to the mining and detecting public). We have many National Parks throughout the State already, do we see vast numbers of local and overseas tourists flocking there to walk in wonderment through them?? Some yes, great numbers NO.

How is this going to change visitor numbers in Central Victoria, when you think about it, we the detector and small mining community are the people who actually walk these forests on a regular basis. I would say we have a lot more regard for the biodiversity in our work place, than what some visitors to here might bother to care about, as they wander aimlessly along some bush walking track with a camera.

If Members are too busy to read or even care of the imminent proposed changes that will affect us all in the end. Don't say you weren't told about it, these matters need addressing now, so have a good think about your enjoyed pass-time, or perhaps even your profession and don't forget the gold that is still waiting out there, yet soon to be out of your reach.

WA will not allow all of the Eastern States to invade their Patch, this you can be sure of!!

Concerned Prospector. ozgold.