By mapping the Earth's surface in some of our former gold regions, Resources Victoria is helping to make areas safer, in remote parts of the state.
Due to gaps in record keeping dating back to the late 1800s, the location of thousands of mine shafts and infrastructure have remained unknown, posing modern-day hazards for users of the Victorian bush, including for potential emergency responses.
Resources Victoria geologists have used LiDAR remote sensing technology to peer beneath the dense vegetation in some of these areas and identified the location of more than 75,000 previously unrecorded mining features within the Golden Plains region.
The information gathered has been used to produce the second in a series of reports exploring former mines and quarries located on Crown land.
Without modern technology like LiDAR, gathering this level of detail in old mining areas would take years, and in some cases may not be possible due to the terrain.
Better understanding the exact location of old mining infrastructure and a site's features are crucial to improving safety in these areas.
The new information will inform emergency response agencies, including Forest Fire Management Victoria and the Country Fire Authority, about potential hazards and risks when fighting fires. This will help keep crews safe.
Importantly, the information is also publicly available to help outdoor enthusiasts to make informed decisions about their safety in these areas.
The research has been undertaken as part of the Former Mines and Quarries Framework program and has involved partnerships with DEECA Regions and Parks Victoria.
The database of former sites will be added to and improved over time.
