Dredging vs Sluicing

On checking the information regarding dredging, I am told it is illegal in Australia. Can someone bring us up to date with the legalities of dredging and sliucing in Australia, with the fors and againsts? Obviously this area can get emotional so the discussion should make interesting reading.

The reason being that if you have knowledge of the activity, then you can't say you don't know if you are caught doing something illegal. One thing we try and do on this forum is protect the environment no matter what you are engaged in.

Jeff

In Victoria it is strictly illegal to use a eductor dredge, (DPI name for suction dredge ). It was banned in 1990 after pressure was applied by angling groups, greenies, farmers, Government officials of various departments & the general public! By definition it is classified as illegal mining with very significant penalties for those breaching the law!

Panning, sluicing & high banking is generally permitted in certain streams! It is complex issue finding if one has legal access, DPI list of exempted streams? May get ditched with overhaul of resources regulations in the Autumn session of parliment? Most National parks are no go areas with the exception of Reedy Creek Eldorado which gives good returns for panning & sluicing due to the fine gold in sandy gravels, tends to be renewed by annual flooding outside of drought years!

As far as i know Dredging in NSW is not permitted either, some years ago it was possible to get a lease and work outside of the active streambed with tailings dams etc? I did hear of someone who had a lease in Sofala District on the Turon or Peel River? Not exactly sure of location i think it was in the late 1990s? I think they make it so hard to get a lease it works as a defacto ban?

It is permitted to pan or sluice in numerous areas of NSW!

Queensland is same as above No Dredging, some leases where operating in the Palmer River district in the 90s?

Tasmania its a definate NO NO for dredging!

Dredging is illegal wether powered by petrol engine or Hydro Head, ( gravity powered suction ).

South Australia, Western Australia & NT lack streams with water & gold!

All in all dredging within a stream is very contraversial, Everyone other than Miners is against it! The last few years has seen the demise of dredging in California it is spreading to other states in the USA. The main areas of concern being, noise pollution, errosion, turbidity issues, mobilisation of heavy metal contaminents ( mercury ). In years past there where considerable conflict with other groups, greenies, birdwatchers, campers, canoeists, fisherman, landowners etc!

Large scale illegal dredging takes place in South America, in recent months the Governments are cracking down on illegal mining operations, they are exploding the dredges with explosives and Jailing the offenders!

Good Post Monoloop68. My only input will be the 3 basic styles of sluicing which really cover everything in regards to separating materials with the use of water "Other than a pan of any configuration". More for the newbie who has no idea!
1: A river sluice, placed in the river using the natural flow of the river/creek, to wash and separate materials which have been shoveled onto the sluice!
2: A sluice used on higher ground where water is pumped or added by bucket to the sluice to separate the shoveled in material!
3: A Dredging sluice, where water and gravel are sucked up from the bottom of a river or creek, entering the sluice as a slurry of both water and gravel!
The advantages of dredging were simple, being able to suck gold from crevice's in bed rock, removing sand and gravel from beneath large boulders in a stream, Basically cleaning up the bottom of a stream without the need to divert the stream, which in days gone by was the best method of getting to pay dirt were the prospectors could only use shovels?
In reality, small scale dredge operations have far less impact on the environment, As for Aussie land tho, it is 100% banned? "Pen Pushers".

Thanks for the explanation fellas

Looking back at history and the dredging that went on in the Vic Rivers, you can see the mess that was created. At least now we all know the score.

Jeff