Tasmanian Prospecting Licence. The Rules and regulations In Tasmania for prospecting including all legislation covering the activity. The Acts and interpretations of the law. Land use and definitions. Anything someone in an agency or Department says or does has to comply with the Act. And, even more importantly our constitutional rights. And, they need to be punished if they fail us. However, It is rarely enforced here in Tasmania, and / or delivered hard enough to make them accountable and aware of there obligations. I guess the legal expense to pursue them, puts most people off. We have obligations and so do they.
The Prospecting Licence
The rules have changed recently, so please be aware of these. These rules are allowable under the act to be changed at any time by the Director of mines.
Prospecting Licences
Conditions relating to Prospecting Licences
A prospecting licence enables the holder to prospect on some lands which are subject to the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995
Prospecting on private property or existing mining leases, retention licences or exploration licences may only be conducted with the consent of the property owner or the holder of the mineral tenement.
Prospecting on land which is subject to an application for an exploration licence or a mining lease may only be conducted with the consent of both the applicant and the Director of Mines.
Prospecting is allowed on State Forest and Regional Reserves, and in some Conservation Areas.
Prospecting is not allowed in National Parks, Nature Reserves, Nature Recreation Areas, Historic Sites, Forest Reserves and in public and municipal reserves (tips, cemeteries, etc.).
Only hand prospecting for material is allowed and only hand-held tools may be used. The use of mechanical machinery or any explosives is prohibited. The use of sluices and trommels and motorised pumps is not permitted. The licence will be withdrawn from any person breaching this condition.
The use of suction dredges is illegal in Tasmania.
Prospectors are to conduct operations in a manner as not to cause or aggravate soil erosion.
Excavation on any natural stream bank is not permitted. Banks must not be undermined.
Prospecting in roadside gutters, or extraction from road embankments, is not permitted.
All care is to be taken in the prospecting of materials and any diggings shall be restored to normal surface level before leaving the area.
No vegetation is to be cut or removed.
Discovery of mineral and fossil specimens not recognised as common should be referred to Mineral Resources Tasmania.
No Aboriginal artefacts or site, or historic relics or site, are to be damaged or removed.
No speleothems (stalactites, etc.) are to be removed from caves whether these are previously broken or not. Removal of speleothems is an offence and offenders can be prosecuted.
Excavation in any sinkhole in a karst area or within 10 metres of the entrance of or within any cave is not permitted.
Vehicles are not to be taken off formed tracks.
No fires are to be lit.
Mineral Resources Tasmania
30 Gordons Hill Road
Rosny Park Tasmania
Telephone 03 6233 8377
Email: info@mrt.tas.gov.au