MRT maps confusion

[Josh]

Hey guys, thanks for letting me join! Some helpful information in here.

I’m hoping someone might be able to clear up some rules for me in Tassie. I’m a newbie, I’ve watched a lot of prospecting videos over the years but have not done any in Tassie. I’m looking to get started but just wanted to clear some things up on before I go purchasing any gear as I’m down in Hobart and I’m confused where I’m actually allowed to go. I’m happy to pay for a licence.

I see MRT have a nice “Tasmanian Prospecting Access” map but it appears to show plenty of conservation areas, all types of reserves, nature recreation areas etc in blue and lists no other requirements? Being Tassie, I assumed a prospecting licence doesn’t grant me permission to go digging in a conservation area? or am I wrong? The rest of the information on that page and the site seems fairly brief and I’ assumed I’d find atleast a disclaimer about checking with other departments or maps before assuming your right to go digging etc. Is it just me or is this map a bit misleading? I see conflicting information about where I can and can’t go.

I’m pretty familiar with LIST maps so have taken a good look on there also. I’m also confused because a lot of the locations I’ve seen talked about here and elsewhere appear to be on private land or a lease. Is everyone getting permission for private access? The mineral occurances map is often on private land also. Is STT areas a common location?

Sorry to ramble on I’m just looking for some clarity on whats legal, what people actually do and whats acceptable. It seem like the more due diligence I do the more confused I get.

Just to be clear, I’m not fishing for anyone’s spots just some very general answers.

Thanks!

[onlypans]

Hi mate, also a newbie here (first post) and in Hobart.

Also been browsing the MRT website and reading this forum + some FB and YouTube stuff and I am also confused. The blue areas on the MRT map where you can just prospect with a licence are few and far between and always nowhere near they have marked gold finds on the map.

The Styx river area is a perfect example, just a small slither of map you can go.

Another example is the Forsters Rivulet down near Cygnet. People here mention it, but the MRT map shows you can’t even prospect at all?

I am starting to think people just go where they want without permission as I have read a few posts online where some of these licence holders don’t even respond to the requests.

Another option I have thought of is technically the ocean & below the high tide marks are not red on the MRT map so maybe that’s a option for us down south in a couple of spots?

[Josh]

Hi mate, thanks for the reply!

I called up MRT to pay for my licence and asked about the map, I spoke to a friendly fella, he said definately all good to go ahead in any of the blue areas even the conservation areas despite parks own rules that contradict it and yellow areas are fine with permission. He also gave me the impression that aslong as you use some common sense no one is going to bother you. He seemed much more chill than I expected.

I think your right, a lot of spots I’ve seen mentioned are technically not allowed in one way or another. It seems a lot of people are just going in state forest. Pretty much all of it down this way has an exploration licence so it’s not allowed but I get the feeling most do it anyway and aslong as your not being silly no one is going to bother you as its STT that manage it and parks have no power there. It seems like the exploratioin licence rules aren’t particularly fair to prospectors and holders don’t respond so maybe people aren’t that motivated to follow them? A bit of panning is never going to hurt anyone I guess.

Another point on beaches and coast. I bought a detector but its not a proper gold one and ill probably only find coins or relics etc. Looking for relics isn’t really prospecting so mrt doesn’t have any authority over that so even on red areas on the map your probably right to swing a detector on most beaches or coast, I guess panning is a bit different. Exceptions are beaches in national parks etc ofcourse.

If any of that is incorrect more than happy for someone to correct me. Cheers.

[Drystone]

Hi Josh & onlypans,

The map looks complex but is not too bad.

The red areas (National Parks, Historic Reserves, Flora Reserves) are no go areas.

Yellow areas (State Forest, Regional Reserves) are fine;

however

check to see whether they are under an exploration licence (E.L’s), retention licence (R.L’s) or mining lease (M.L’s).

if they are, then we are obliged under the conditions of the prospecting permit to get permission via letter or email from the relevant person/ company.

This can unfortunately be a fruitless excercise as often there will be no response.

This creates a grey area, whereby you have done all the right things, but haven’t got a clear directive.

(It would be better if we followed VIC whereby the prospecting licence/miners right allows blanket access to EL’s.)

Conservation Areas are a mixed bag: generally ok, but it would pay to check the permitted activities as each one can vary (ie 4WD in some)

Rough guide:

Stay away from National Parks, Mining Leases, Private Property.

For the rest, use common sense, and abide with the conditions on your licence.

If you come to one of our field trips, you can meet a bunch of good people and get some good tips and advice.

The next trip will be early Nov: hope to see you there

cheers

AG

[Jules]

Hi. New to this site and hopefully can use it as a good resource. Thanks for having me.

Yeah I’ve just got my prospecting licence and it seems going by the maps all yellow areas ive seen are under some company. Thou if i look up land tenure alot is under forestry which confuses me as I thought you can prospect in forestry areas? Bit of blue around corrina area . These areas proberly prospected to the hilt.

Watched alot of YouTube stuff. Seems these fellas must have loads of permissions. Can I bother with writing letters and waiting . What companies are good with a yes?

Id imagine getting out there and going to these approved places may open you up as a starting point.

Its a struggle to actually no a place where you can go and def know you are in allowed areas.

Anyway this post has been kinda helpful and I am sure its not as perplexing as it seems

[onlypans]

Thanks @drystone , that’s some great information. I will definitely try and make a trip when I can. As I said, just a newbie wanting to have a bit of fun so any help is appreciated.

@Josh Considering you’re down in Hobart, if you want a buddy one day let me know. I don’t have a detector, but have everything needed for a bit of panning.

Cheers!

[Jules]

Hi drystone Referring the yellow parts on tasmanian propecting access mrt site I am finding alot of areas are exploration licence and says premission required then i go to next page on it and says land tenure and says prospecting allowed.

Is this correct? Cheers.

[Jbee]

It means you are allowed to prospect there if you have all the permissions you need. Ie from the EL or Mining Lease holder and the land holder if it says Private land. You can click on the provided link and you will see details of how to communicate with the EL or ML holder.

[Jules]

Thanks for that. Most helpful