Consultation on a potential fossicking area at the No 7 Mount Morgan Dam will begin in the coming weeks.
Rockhampton Regional Council has approved consultation to establish a General Permission Area at the dam as part of its Advancing Mount Morgan strategy.
The General Permission Area which will require approval by the Queensland Government allows licensed fossickers to access the site and fossick in the area for gold. Under the General Permission Area, strict requirements are applied to ensure the safe and appropriate use of the site.
Rockhampton Regional Council will also be required to develop a Land Management Plan to support the General Permission Area which also requires approval from the Queensland Government.
Following community consultation, a further report will be brought to Council to consider the next steps in the process, including specific areas for fossicking, access to the site, parking and maintenance of the local landscape and environment.
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tony Williams, said fossicking was part of Mount Morgan's history and a General Permission Area would support greater tourism and visitation in the town.
"Gold mining is synonymous with the history and image of Mount Morgan," Mayor Williams said.
"Mount Morgan is home to one of the richest gold mines in Australia with thousands of people travelling each year to visit the town and take in its history and character.
"A General Permission Area is another way in which Council through Advance Rockhampton is supporting local jobs and business in the area and working with the community to create new tourism opportunities.
Division 5 Councillor, Cr Cherie Rutherford, said Council believed there was a genuine opportunity to attract more people to Mount Morgan and support economic growth and activity in the region.
"This has been a hot topic of conversation amongst residents and business for some time and it's great to be taking this next step in the process.
"We want to hear from local residents, businesses and interested groups about their views on this proposal and how we potentially shape this opportunity going forward," Cr Rutherford said.
"I want to assure local residents that Council will work with them to consider this initiative carefully and to make sure we are striking the right balance between new tourism opportunities and the preservation of our local environment.
"Gold and fossicking is woven into the town's DNA and I think this is a great chance to reinvigorate those iconic characteristics at a community level."
Advance Rockhampton's Economic Development Manager, Wade Clark, said Advance Rockhampton had been working closely with stakeholders to identify suitable sites and support economic development of the local region.
"Whilst Advance Rockhampton has been working closely with Heritage Minerals over the last year to gear up for the gold and copper project, we have also been working on other activations including the General Permission Area to further diversify Mount Morgan economic offerings," Mr Clark said.
"Opportunities to establish fossicking in Mount Morgan was a key finding of the Advancing Mount Morgan strategy and would help develop local business offerings in this space as well as supporting already established local businesses in the tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors."
At its Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 April 2024, Council resolved:
- To undertake community consultation on potentially establishing a recreational and tourist fossicking area through a General Permission Area (GPA) at No 7 Dam Mount Morgan (Lot 201 RN836502);
- That a further report be provided to Council outlining the outcomes of the community consultation process and any subsequent activities to progress this initiative.
Council previously considered two alternative sites to establish a General Permission Area at Horse Creek and Leydens Hill which were deemed unsuitable.
Updates on community consultation will be available in the coming weeks.
