BGLC is representing the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Indigenous groups who have identified cultural heritage sites at the park.
A Parks Victoria spokesperson said the extra rangers would provide ‘a greater on-ground presence to improve visitor facilities and education programs to support park users to understand and protect the cultural and natural values’.
It is understood additional cultural heritage assessments will explore opportunities for increasing access to climbing areas, particularly for children and people with disabilities, which will provide further advice to Parks Victoria.
Parks Victoria staff have spent the past four months reviewing submissions following the closure of the public consultation period, which was extended after a public outcry that followed the release of the draft plan in November.
A Parks Victoria spokesperson said Parks Victoria was committed to getting the balance right – ensuring people could access and enjoy the park while protecting the cultural and natural values that made Mount Arapiles-Dyurrite significant.
“Our goal is to protect what makes Dyurrite special, while helping more people experience this unique landscape,” they said.
“We will carefully read, analyse and consider all feedback summarised in this report to help inform how the proposed changes to the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan amendment are progressed.”
The spokesperson said Parks Victoria acknowledged some participants expressed concern about the engagement process.
“While the approach was developed in line with the Victorian Government Public Engagement Framework, we recognise that for some, the process did not meet expectations,” they said.
“Parks Victoria is listening to this feedback and will take it into account when planning any future engagement activities.”
The feedback highlighted concerns about the proposed extent of permanent climbing restrictions; strong community interest in the tangible and intangible cultural, environmental and recreational values of Mount Arapiles-Dyurrite; strong recognition of the importance of protecting cultural heritage and traditional owner rights; requests for better consultation, clearer information, and suggestions for alternatives such as seasonal closures, permits, improved signs and education.
“Taking onboard this community feedback, Parks Victoria will work closely with traditional owner partners – in discussion with climbing groups, user groups, councils, business owners and other stakeholders – to refine the management plan,” the spokesperson said.
Working group
The Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan Working Group met in Horsham on May 28, welcoming a new chair Dale Antonysen, Parks Victoria’s acting western regional manager.
Parks Victoria’s new chief executive Lee Miezis also attended the meeting.
Working group member Felix Ritson, a Natimuk-based climber and Arapiles District Community Group, ADCG, representative, said Parks Victoria acknowledged the significant concern with the consultation process and apologised for the negative impacts the process had caused. Working group members called for a reset by Parks Victoria to improve transparency, consultation, communication and facilitate reconciliation.
Members also emphasised the need for better engagement from Parks Victoria, clearer meeting records and agreed to share a summary of each meeting.
The working group requested Parks Victoria develop clear terms of reference for the working group, improve minute-taking and agree to develop a summary of all meetings that all members could share to the groups they represented.
Dr Ritson said the consultation with the Natimuk and climbing community was a hot topic at the meeting.
“The climbing community and the local community are very dissatisfied with the consultation process Parks Victoria has undertaken and see the way Parks Victoria has managed this as causing significant distress in the community,” he said.
“ The new CEO acknowledged this and in fact made an apology to the working group and then also made a public apology by way of summary from the meeting from what Parks Victoria has done, and they’re taking responsibility for it.”
Dr Ritson said the group acknowledged Parks Victoria was under pressure to formally protect the cultural heritage values that had been identified and registered.
“We, in an ideal world, want a more in-depth formal review process rather than an amendment to the Parks Victoria plan, which would allow a broader consult, more in-depth and broader consultation process, but we acknowledge the need to move with some degree of haste, and so we are absolutely willing to work with that timeframe as present, depending on how that process goes,” he said.
Dr Ritson said ADCG ‘warmly welcomed’ the process BGLC was undertaking regarding to the draft management plan.
“The ADCG and the community, as well as myself, see cooperation and working with BGLC in the traditional owners community as vitally important to the entire process of developing and actioning a Dyrurrite plan,” he said.
“The ADCG recognises the very important cultural heritage values at the site that absolutely needs to be protected, and really hope and look forward that the broader community can, in whatever form, be encouraged, participate, or experience some of that cultural value.”
Priorities
Dr Ritson said the working group still had key priorities it was advocating for on behalf of the community.
“We would like more extensive minutes taken from the meeting, an independent socioeconomic analysis of the impact of the plan has not been conducted to our knowledge, and we request that to be done,” he said.
“We would like assurances that the draft plan feature of not allowing individuals to walk off Parks Victoria authorised trails be removed, and it’s been suggested that we will achieve that outcome.
“We also requested and have hope and the intention that we can develop a close and strong working relationship with BGLC and that Parks Victoria can assist in developing that connection.”
There was significant backlash about the amount and types of rock climbing routes planned to be banned, with many in the Natimuk community opposing the plan, believing the changes would cull visitor numbers to the area, resulting in economic losses to the town’s businesses.
Arapiles District Community Group member Ashlee Hendy said it was not in anyone’s best interests for the draft plan process to be dragged out for a long duration.
“There’s no perfect outcome because we want the job done well and done properly. Everyone wants that,” she said.
“But the longer it takes, the more uncertainty continues and the harder it is for people to plan their lives.”
BGLC did not respond to The Weekly Advertiser’s request for comment.
RELATED: Mt Arapiles submissions summary
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