Parks Victoria climbing decision for Mount Arapiles delivers mixed reactions

Parks Victoria has released a new management plan for Mount Arapiles, in western Victoria, with plans to close half of the climbing routes as well as the renowned Pines campground that for decades has been a hub for Australia’s climbing community.

Mount Arapiles is a rock formation that rises about 140 metres above the Wimmera Plains in the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park near the town of Natimuk.

The Victorian Government states its draft management plan for Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park will “ensure Victorians can enjoy the Arapiles-Tooan State Park (Dyurrite Cultural Landscape), investing in its facilities and protecting its natural wonders for future generations to come.”

Victorian Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced a $1.7 million investment to improve the facilities, tracks and access points at Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park (Dyurrite Cultural Landscape).

It will improve parking, refresh tracks and trails as well as upgrade visitor facilities including new barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and new signage telling the cultural story of the area.

This investment follows the release of the draft management plan for Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park (Dyurrite Cultural Landscape) which includes areas of cultural significance to the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagulk Peoples.

The area is home to one of the largest stone quarry complexes found in Australia with rock art and scar trees dating back 3,000 years.

The state government considers that under the draft management plan the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape will continue to be a place for climbing, walks and camping, as well as many other activities, with 80 of the established rock-climbing areas open for climbers.

However, the decision has led to rock climbers accusing Parks Victoria of destroying the world-famous climbing site with bans at Mount Arapiles.

 ‘Save Grampians Climbing’ has described it as “a wipeout” noting “the literal beating heart of climbing in Australia has been ripped out and discarded.

“Parks Victoria and the Victorian Government continue their destruction of the Australian climbing community by enlarging climbing bans at Arapiles and ignoring the majority users in any form of consultation.”

Parks Victoria claims it consulted the climbing industry when drafting the new management plan because the Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network (GWRN) had provided a 54-page report “from a rock-climbing perspective” to assist decision-makers.

However Save Grampians Climbing said this document was kept secret from the wider climbing community adding “no consultation was had with Climbing Victoria or Outdoors Victoria about this plan… (and) there are no public community meetings scheduled.

“It’s like they actually don’t want to hear any feedback.”

The decision to close climbing routes at Mount Arapiles came after Parks Victoria and the Barengi Gadjin Land Council undertook environmental and archaeological surveys focusing on 153 rock climbing areas and informal walking tracks identified through an online database of climbing and bouldering areas.

Victorian Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins advised “It’s important we get the balance right, respect cultural heritage and allow Victorians to continue to visit and enjoy the outdoors in the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape.”

Lyn Mace Deputy Chair Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation added "The Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagulk Peoples have lived in and cared for the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape for tens of thousands of years. We share a deep spiritual and cultural connection to this remarkable landscape, which is rich in irreplaceable cultural heritage, artefacts, and creation stories.

“Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is encouraged by the Government's investment in Dyurrite and its support for the implementation of appropriate cultural heritage and environmental protections for the benefit of all. We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience this culturally significant landscape firsthand."

Save Grampians Climbing released the following comments on their website:

• Permanent bans affect half of Arapiles climbing and now includes The Pharos, Yesterday Gully, Mitre Rock and even Tiptoe Ridge!

• Original bans on Declaration Crag, Tiger Wall, Castle Crag and plenty more remain.

• The iconic Pines campground to be closed

• Commercial guides to have exclusive use of Bushrangers Bluff sunny side.

• Infrastructure to be installed to support a “cultural tourism experience” and to replace rock climbing as primary use of the park.

• No consultation was had with Climbing Victoria or Outdoors Victoria about this plan

• Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network (GWRN) provided a detailed 54-page report to assist the formalisation of these bans – but kept this document secret from the wider climbing community.

• The public have 28 days to respond to the draft management plan – but – “this consultation will not be reviewing any changes to the areas that need to be protected.”. Sorry Parks Victoria – that’s not consultation.

• There are no public community meetings scheduled. It’s like they actually don’t want to hear any feedback?

The sentiment of Save Grampians Climbing that the Victorian Government is set to formally destroy rock climbing at Australia’s most significant site after a four-year secretive process to investigate cultural heritage was was picked up by News Limited publications with a Sky News headline of 'It’s a wipeout'; Herald Sun of ‘Fury as Parks Victoria bans rock climbing after secret surveys’ and The Australian with ‘Parks Victoria bans rock climbing after secret surveys’. The tabloid Daily Mail ran with ‘Shocking reason why Aussies are now banned from climbing Mount Arapiles’.

Parks Victoria advise that public consultation on the draft management plan is open until 2nd December. To provide feedback visit, engage.vic.gov.au/dyurrite.