On 9 May 2017 staff from the Department of Primary Industry and Resources attended the Top End Gem and Mineral Club’s weekly meeting, held at Knuckey’s Lagoon Reserve.

This was the first time the department had been invited to attend and welcomed the opportunity to talk to the club members and answer questions about general fossicking and other concerns.

Particular focus was on requirements to access land to fossick and how decisions were made on when and where new fossicking areas may be gazetted by the department.

During the visit club members were given a fossicking USB produced by the department. The USB contains useful information on the requirements for fossicking in the Northern Territory, including geological maps of areas of interest, individual fossicking area details and much more.

The department also presented the club with a large cardboard model of ‘Fred Fossicker’ and from all accounts ‘Fred’ has become a very popular member of the club!

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