Gold hunters fear World Heritage bid could undermine prospecting

The Victorian goldfields are in the process of seeking UNESCO World Heritage designation for a select group of historically significant sites. However, modern-day prospectors are apprehensive that such a listing could lead to land use restrictions that may impact their ability to practice prospecting. The government will soon select which site from the tentative list will be submitted for UNESCO consideration.

Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria (PMAV) executive president Jason Cornish has been receiving numerous calls from gold hunters, expressing concerns about the potential implications of a World Heritage listing. Cornish clarifies that a UNESCO designation would not impact local laws, but apprehensions persist surrounding the possibility of increased restrictions.

The World Heritage bid for the Victorian goldfields proposes listing a collection of historically significant sites across regional Victoria, such as Castlemaine, Walhalla, and the Great Nuggets landscape. The proposal has gathered support from 15 local councils, the state government, and Heritage Victoria. The federal government will select one proposal from its tentative list to submit to UNESCO next month.

Barry Gamble, a strategic adviser to the heritage bid, emphasizes that the preservation of early mining activity is a key aspect of what makes Victoria's gold rush unique.