Proposed exploration in NE Vic.

[Katabatic]

Currawong Resources explains gold exploration plans for Harrietville | The Border Mail

https://alburywodongaonlinenews.com...ation-plans-for-harrietville-the-border-mail/

Some info on the applications:

https://currawongres.com/harrietville/

 

[Teemore]

Same is happening all over Victoria (and probably Australia) .... more exploration licenses than you can poke a snake at.

Fortunately, in Vic at least, you can happily prospect on exploration lease land (providing it's accessible to you, ie not private and then only with owners permission).

Interesting, think I picked it up at Fosterville Mine open day ...... private property owners rights don't mean a lot when it comes to large companies wanting to explore the land for gold (minerals).

 

[Katabatic]

It's going to be interesting to see how it pans out (sorry).......this area has worked damned hard to build itself a reputation for clean tourist activities......Alpine bicycle activities (perpetual road hazard), horticulture, snow skiing, bush-walking, food and beverage trails, fishing, and even a little bit of fossicking

The area has tried very hard to leave behind its raucous days of gold mining (except to allow the tourists to gawk at the ruins) so I don't think it will be real pleased to revisit the noise,pollution, and general heavy-duty activity of the "bad old days".

Interesting article about it here:

No Gold Drilling for the Upper Ovens Valley

https://themountainjournal.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/no-gold-drilling-for-the-upper-ovens-valley/

 

[Northeast]

They've been drilling closer to Myrtleford just recently but the operators don't give much away with what they are finding. And by 'they've' I don't mean the company outlined above - I am not sure which company it is.

Local land holders that are assisting with a few things say that they have seen this multiple times at the same site for years and years. A different company drills, they make a bit of noise about how profitable it might be and then nothing happens.

Similar things happen up the Buckland.

 

[jethro]

Exploration companies are as much about mining the shareholders pockets as they are about mining the resource. Large Mining companies are ideally looking for near Surface Bulk Tonnage deposits that they can opencut. North east Victorias Gold mineralization is in the majority narrow vein hosted. Of which most of the near surface large Vein deposits have already been mined out by the old timers in the late 1800s -early 1900s and then again in the 30s.
There is still plenty of small deposits near surface that would probably be profitable for small operations of a couple of guys with a small plant to work but the hassle involved in even getting a prospecting License on 5 hectares for 5yrs non renewable is prohibitive unless you are well cashed up. The DLWEP (mines Dept ) is no longer about assisting miners by pionting them in the right direction and providing services as they did in the 1900-1970s they are there to create hurdles and hoops and prosecute at the drop of an out of place rock. Rant over ]

 

[Edi]

The community here in the upper ovens is outraged over fears of extensive dredging and open cut mining. It is mostly hysteria promoted by some recent immigrant elderly yuppies from the covid rid city to the south. Sadly they don't care that there are bugger all industries here except hospitality and tourism that don't pay enough for the young people to be able to stay here. Especially when real estate prices have exploded due to the influx of the above mentioned immigrants. The reality is that sort of mining would never be allowed and we are far more likely to get small underground operations that will have minimal impact and most people would hardly notice they exist. It's just so selfish to deny the young blokes here the prospect of decent work

 

[Katabatic]

The community here in the upper ovens is outraged over fears of extensive dredging and open cut mining. It is mostly hysteria promoted by some recent immigrant elderly yuppies from the covid rid city to the south. Sadly they don't care that there are bugger all industries here except hospitality and tourism that don't pay enough for the young people to be able to stay here. Especially when real estate prices have exploded due to the influx of the above mentioned immigrants. The reality is that sort of mining would never be allowed and we are far more likely to get small underground operations that will have minimal impact and most people would hardly notice they exist. It's just so selfish to deny the young blokes here the prospect of decent work

Mate....if you think that real estate prices have exploded because of a few wrinklies from Melbourne, just wait and see what happens to them when a few overpaid miners arrive in town.

See, for example, Karratha:

Karratha property prices booming again amid fears locals already being priced out of the area

Mr Carter (second from right) says the city is losing local contributors who can't afford the rent.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09...ns-but-fears-locals-being-priced-out/12619216

And if you think that the development of a gold mine (or two) will provide employment for some local young folk, have a chat to anyone from the coal country in Qld, or iron ore country in WA, or just about any mining town for that matter........ask them what they think about FIFO.

And have you heard about automation?

Ask the people who used to drive the mining trucks and trains over in the west about it.

Now I know we're talking a difference of scale here, but don't for one minute think that a local mining operation is going to be good for locals.

And.....don't you think it's about time that this country started learning to do other things for a living besides digging holes in the ground?

Edit: Jethro's comment above will give you some idea of how much employment the locals are likely to get out of any new mines........potentially quite a bit of pain, for very little gain.

 

[Swinging & digging]

From the EL, you would be lucky to get maybe one good prospect that may turn into a viable mine.
Most likely underground due to nature of narrow vein deposits in the district.

The Ovens Valley has been fairly anti mining for quite a few decades, most likely on account of what bucket dredging did to the valley many years ago.
With modern regulation I doubt one medium scale underground gold mine would vastly change the area in negative ways.Its almost certain the local green
groups will drive any mining proposal out of the district in a heartbeat.

Vastly different to Large scale iron ore mining and FIFO Western Australia.

We need Sir Goldie Rocks to comment on this one?

 

[Katabatic]

Vastly different to Large scale iron ore mining and FIFO Western Australia.

Yep....which is why I said "Now I know we're talking a difference of scale here......".

The main point I was addressing was the "The mine will save us" narrative, which appeared foremost in Edi's post.

Fact is, it won't.

But, poorly managed, it has the potential to damage the clean and relaxing regional image that many have worked hard to cultivate for many years.

I have seen in many parts of the world the aftermath of miners getting what they came for and then buggering off, leaving someone else to do the cleaning up and repair the regions reputational damage.

All the Regulations and Laws in the world count for nothing when the company in question has gone belly-up, with nothing left in the bank.

In some cases the local communities have marginally benefited......in most, they have not.

It's a case of "be careful what you wish for".

 

[Swinging & digging]

I have witnessed mining proposals for the Ovens region vanish from community pressure before.
I doubt any discovery will progress to a working profitable mine.

 

[Katabatic]

This is the sort of gold for which NE Vic is now rightly famous

 

[Edi]

Fair points made about miners pushing up real estate prices. And locals not getting access to jobs. But I have lived in worked in areas where mine jobs are prioritised to locals. Obviously doesn't happen everywhere and fifo camps suck for most townsfolk. It has really upset me.loosing so.many friends who can't afford the rent who have lived In the district for years and are forced to leave. The shire bears some responsibility by encouraging airbnb tourism and making housing developments only possible at the higher $ end. I have worked extensively in both open cut and to a lesser extent underground and am under no illusions as to the mess mines leave. 20000 plus unrestored legacy mines in the country, legislated deposits for rehab an embarrassing joke relative to real coat of rehabilitation.
Koolan island iron ore claims it will be the first ever australia mine to close to the terms agreed apon with government. Hasn't happened yet tho. What a joke, most of the shareholders are not australian citizens but they leave their mess behind for the taxpayers and environment to suffer. Weak governments, especially qld and wa mines departments, institutionalised corruption.
I get angry

 

[Edi]

Fair points made about miners pushing up real estate prices. And locals not getting access to jobs. But I have lived in worked in areas where mine jobs are prioritised to locals. Obviously doesn't happen everywhere and fifo camps suck for most townsfolk. It has really upset me.loosing so.many friends who can't afford the rent who have lived In the district for years and are forced to leave. The shire bears some responsibility by encouraging airbnb tourism and making housing developments only possible at the higher $ end. I have worked extensively in both open cut and to a lesser extent underground and am under no illusions as to the mess mines leave. 20000 plus unrestored legacy mines in the country, legislated deposits for rehab an embarrassing joke relative to real coat of rehabilitation.
Koolan island iron ore claims it will be the first ever australia mine to close to the terms agreed apon with government. Hasn't happened yet tho. What a joke, most of the shareholders are not australian citizens but they leave their mess behind for the taxpayers and environment to suffer. Weak governments, especially qld and wa mines departments, institutionalised corruption.
I get angry

 

[SWright]

G'Day all

first up, I have been a company explorer, a FIFO and a DIDO mine worker. Any mine in the North East will be residential or DIDO as are all Vic and NSW mines in the east. All contracts for non specialist workers and haulage and carting etc will almost certainly go to local or regional firms as are all other mines I noted before. All miners, Engineers and Geos would likely be required to be residential in the immediate area. That is how things work. FIFO only works for highly specialist occupations like consultants and shutdowns and remote regions or where the mine would require very large work forces. So it is very very likely that the regional community would benefit.

 

[jethro]

Makes laugh when a new large exploration licence is applied for over an area that is a haven for green blow ins or a Tourist trap for Melbourne yuppies that want to escape the concrete jungle they call home, for the weekend. The Ill informed antis usually become overnight experts on Minerals Tenement Law and start bleating about huge holes being dug & left & streams degraded and whole forests bulldozed not to mention truckloads of rock travelling the regions roads and causing untold damage. They must think that the whole of the EL is one potential huge open cut.They also tend to use the mining practices of the past and the mess that the bucket dredgers and Hydraulic Sluicers left behind as the yardstick by which all future mining rehabilitation will be measured.
I did a quick check on geovic and found that in the shires of Wangaratta, Indigo, Alpine, Towong, and the top of Gippsland shires there are already 4 current mining licences. As well as at least 10 Exploration licences 5 retention licences & even 4 prospecting licences. I dont know how many of the MIN licences are actually being mined at present but I dont see too much degradation being caused. by the type of narrow vein underground mining undertaken in these mining licences. ickshovel:

 

[jethro]

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