AMATEUR gold hunters face a 234 per cent hike in the price of their miner’s right in a proposed tripling of fees for Victorian miners.
Resources Victoria wants to increase licence fees from October 1 in a move under fire from Loddon detectorists and mining exploration companies.
Gold Nugget Hunter owner Shane Walker said higher fees could be disastrous for local bushland.
“This is not an increase people can afford. You could understand rising 10 per cent over two or three years but a sudden increase is ridiculous and nothing but a money grab,” Mr Walker said.
“I am involved with people at a grassroots level, those starting out and unsure if they will get into prospecting. A higher fee does not help and that may lead to people heading out not knowing the rules and regulations and risking bushland.”
Bendigo-based exploratory company owner Matthew Carkeek, who is looking to gain licences in southern Loddon districts, said: “The Earth Resources Regulator is proposing to increase all fees by 234 per cent effectively tripling all fees. This on the face doesn’t sound unreasonable right?
“The only thing is it effects all activities including the miner’s right holder. 
“There are approximately 80,000 Vic-torians that hold a miners right so that they can go panning or metal detecting in our regional areas, all spending money on fuel, accommodation, food and in some cases  even shifting to regional areas.
“These fee increase will also effect the small scale miner such as myself and many others to the point that it will become unaffordable, in turn increasing illegal activity and reducing regional economic activities.
“This will also effect medium size marginal operations (quarries, mines, exploration, and other extractive based companies) that although financially viable would be better off investing capital in other states or countries also they’re for reducing economic activity in our regional areas.”
Resources Victoria says the increase is needed for monitoring and enforcing compliance of mines and quarries across Victoria.”