What price gold in a recovering landscape? And what price the Prospector’s and Miners’ Code of Conduct?

When walking along Forest Creek recently we came across a series of freshly dug holes that varied in shape and size. Ones made by the hungry echidna (see below) were a delight to see as it meant that the rehabilitation work being done in this area was making this a healthier place for it to live.

August 2011, Photo by John Ellis

The other holes (see below) made by people who had heard about the increased price in gold made a mockery of a landscape in the process of recovering from previous gold diggings. Prospectors should have a license and follow the Code Of Practice that requires holes to be filled in. It would be even better if they dug up a gorse bush rather than a dianella!