A Mountain To Climb?
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has warned Parliament that the Grampians National Park could soon lose its place as the epicentre of Australian rock climbing, under a wide-ranging new Parks Victoria policy document.
The Greater Gariwerd Draft Landscape Management Plan, released on Wednesday, would see 66 existing climbing areas close permanently, shutting 2300 of the best climbs in the area. It also calls into question the future of the remaining sites, and climbers have told Mrs McArthur that if the same approach is followed the activity could be effectively wiped out in the park.
In her Adjournment Debate to Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Mrs McArthur disputed Parks Victoria’s charge that climbers damage the environment, or disrespect sites of cultural significance.
She said: “Rock climbers are mindful of the environment and cultural sensitivity and have made these climbs for decades without damage or disrespect. To presume their guilt and to collectively punish them is just wrong.”
“It is no surprise that climbing and bouldering groups have reacted with horror and a deep sense of unfairness at Parks Victoria’s attitude, displayed throughout the document, and in the management plan it advocates. Sadly, this simply reflects the approach of Parks in recent years.”
She took aim at Parks’ Victoria’s apparent desire to exclude all human activity from these areas, and suggested their efforts to protect the park could be better directed.
“This is a national park; it should not be locked up. It should be open to all Victorians. Coexistence should be the absolute aim of our national parks.
“Without this pervasive and perverse anti-climber attitude, Parks Victoria might actually see that far more could be done to safeguard the environment and culturally sensitive areas by managing tourists better, and by dealing with the explosion of feral animals throughout the park.”
Mrs McArthur noted the organisation’s inconsistent approach: “Their own projects appear exempt from such considerations. The 160-kilometre Grampians Peaks Trail for example has been quarrying in the park, with the bulldozing of paths through 90 kilometres of virgin country and the alleged disruption of culturally significant sites, all at a cost of $33 million. And will the visitors it brings be better stewards of the country than the climbers?
She highlighted the poor relationship between Parks Victoria and climbers, and asked for the Minister’s assistance in resolving the dispute before the area’s reputation for climbing and visitor numbers are destroyed.
“The plan covers the Grampians National Park, including routes climbed for many decades which are of national and even international significance.”
She concluded: “The action I seek from the minister is to intervene in this broken relationship between Parks Victoria and the climbing community to redress the balance, counter the presumption of guilt and achieve coexistence in this epicentre of Australian rock climbing.”
17 November 2020