sand spears

Me think it's some over paid over powered bureaucrat trying to interpret the law!!!!

I can't see every traveller having one and the ones who do I can't see them pulling out enough water to cause damage.

It would be interesting on what they describe a water spear as ...... they might be talking about a water spear that's used for a bore pulling out large amounts of water compared to the one mentioned above that may pull out small amounts for general camping needs.

But you forgot the small print "mining companies exempt". LOL

I think it might be some bureaucrat covering his/her and their respective departments rear end in case someone sues over an upset stomach or more importantly someone being poisoned.

For instance they stopped People drinking the river water in the Macleay River upstream of Kempsey due to the high levels of arsenic in the river and ground water around the river.

They were trucking water into Bellbrook for years to overcome this problem.

Still, if you are sure the water in the area you are camping in is OK then the small amount individuals would use while camping would be less than a "drop" in the ocean.

Personally can't see a problem other than the bad water thing.

Cheers, Bruce

Gents the reason they are banned has little to do with interpretation, gathering large amounts of water, or fear of litigation. In places like Fraser the water sits on a peat bed below the sand. Sticking holes in it runs the risk of having the water come up through these holes which would upset the natural flow of the water.
I think you will find this is the reason for the ban.
Ken

Ken,
That would explain the ban on Fraser but not anywhere else.

Bruce