Climbing Ban Over Aboriginal Heritage Will ‘Devastate’ Community: Liberal MP

An undated video screenshot of a person scaling a rock face on Mount Arapiles, Victoria. AAP Image/Mark Tadic

A ban on rock climbing at Mt. Arapiles in Victoria’s west to protect Aboriginal heritage will devastate local businesses, says Liberal MP for Western Victoria Bev McArthur.

The Allan Labor government is facing pressure from thousands of climbers about its management of land access, with nearby towns Natimak and Horsham to be hit hardest by the climbing prohibitions.

Last month, Parks Victoria and Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC) announced bans to more than half of the climbing areas of Mt. Arapiles, considered the best rock-climbing area in Australia and one of the world’s best climbing destinations.

Up to half the tracks around the rock formation four hours west of Melbourne will be closed to protect Aboriginal artefacts, scarred trees, and recently discovered rock art.

A petition disputing this ban, sponsored by Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy, also the Nationals’ deputy leader, has raised over 9,300 signatures.

And McArthur has also lobbied strongly against the bans.

“Parks are for the people, not for Parks Victoria or the government or bureaucracy,” she told The Epoch Times.

“The recent banning of rock climbing at Mt. Arapiles is going to devastate the towns of Natimak and Horsham.

“Already businesses have closed. That was home to 300,000 climbers, and one of the most important climbing places in the world.”

Labor Trying to ‘Strike the Right Balance’

Labor MP for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora, said the climbing prohibitions were about striking the right balance between leisurely pursuits, and respecting ancient Aboriginal culture and rock art.

She added most rock climbers wanted to protect and preserve the ancient art in the region.

“Cultural heritage sites have been rediscovered in the Dyurrite cultural landscape, including tens of thousands of artefacts, scar trees, rock art dating back at least 3,000 years and one of the largest Indigenous stone quarry complexes found in Australia,” she said in state parliament.

“Surveys have also discovered threatened plants, including skeleton fork fern and western pellitory.

She said she had been contacted by many climbers who expressed their commitment to respecting the cultural heritage of the area.

“Many have also told me that they want ongoing consultation to ensure the management of this incredible area meets the needs of the local community, climbers, traditional owners and local small businesses and tourism,” Ermacora said.

“I think those opposite can play games and exploit this complex issue for political gain, but this is a challenge that has to be confronted. We cannot avoid it.

“Our government is determined to strike the right balance between cultural heritage, local tourism and climbers.”

Flow-On Effects From the Ban Will Be Huge: McArthur

However, McArthur said it wasn’t just rock climbers and the industry who would be negatively impacted from the Mt Arapiles climbing bans.

On her Facebook page, she wrote that the Natimuk community would lose medics, teachers, and professionals across a wide range of occupations, with businesses such as Open Spaces Publishing having no choice but to close.

“Tourism will be devastated and not just hospitality,” she said in parliament.

“Open Spaces publishing has sold 140,000 climbing guides over 30 years.”

Devastated owner Glenn Tempest announced its closure, writing to Premier Jacinta Allan, “I can’t even put into words just how gutted this makes me feel. Mt Arapiles has been part of my life for 50 years.

“It changed my life, and the lives of possibly hundreds of thousands of others.”

McArthur added that Tempest told her the climbing bans were an attack on the rights of all people to access public lands.

She also told The Epoch Times the climbing bans would prevent many gold prospectors from carrying out their chosen leisurely activity.

Government Management Plans

The Victorian government announced a $1.7 million investment and amended management plan for Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park (Dyurrite Cultural Landscape).

The plan aims to “balance recreational use and the protection of cultural heritage and the environment.”

“Planned upgrades to visitor facilities include new barbecues and picnic tables, improved parking, refreshed tracks, and trails that will make the park more accessible for people, including signage telling the remarkable cultural story of the area. Outdated toilet facilities in Centenary Park will also be replaced,” the Parks Victoria website says.

Parks Victoria added that the protection of thousands of artefacts, scarred trees, rock art with evidence dating back at least 3,000 years, and one of the largest Indigenous stone quarry complexes found in Australia were of utmost importance.

Threatened plants, including the Skeleton Fork Fern and the Western Pellitory, would also be protected.

However, in a significant development for all impacted by the rock-climbing bans, the Allan government extended the community consultation period for the draft management plan to Feb. 14.

The two-month extension came after Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos ordered a review of Parks Victoria on Nov. 29, a day after Chief Executive Matthew Jackson’s tenure ended.

Graeme ‘Gus’ Dear, a Victorian Fisheries Authority board member, was appointed as interim chief executive.

The management plan seeks to protect areas of cultural significance to the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Indigenous groups, represented by Barengi Gadjin Land Council.

Horsham Rural City Council last week called on the state government to extend consultation, requesting a government-funded economic and social-impact assessment of Mt Arapiles.