By  Lauren Henry

Changes to the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape draft management plan will ‘severely curtail climbing’ at Natimuk’s Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park, Climbing Victoria says.

The updated draft management plan is now available for public consultation until December 1.

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. 

The area is home to one of Australia’s largest stone quarry complexes with rock art and scar trees dating back 3000 years. The Weekly Advertiser understands under the changes to the management plan, there will be camping temporarily allowed at Centenary Park, with changes to be made including restrictions to the pines area, until a new campground is established.

The original bans imposed in 2020 on several climbing areas, including Declaration Crag, Tiger Wall, and Castle Crag will remain, while new permanently banned areas also include The Pharos, Yesterday Gully, Mitre Rock and Tiptoe Ridge.

It also proposed that commercial guides would have exclusive use of certain climbs.

Several signs were placed around the park late last month reading: ‘While Parks Victoria and Barengi Gadjin Land Council determine a longer-term management response, and out of respect for this significant cultural landscape, visitors are requested to not enter this area’.

In a media release sent out after 5pm on the eve of the Melbourne Cup public holiday, the State Government announced it would invest $1.7-million to ‘improve the facilities, tracks and access points’ at the park.

The government says the upgrade ‘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’. 

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said under the draft management plan, the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape would ‘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’. 

Mr Dimopoulous said the updated management plan provided certainty for traditional owners and all users of the park.

“We want as many Victorians as possible to enjoy the great outdoors. This investment will allow more visitors to appreciate the park, while celebrating and protecting its cultural and environmental wonders,” he said.

In a statement from Climbing Victoria, the peak body representing outdoor climbers in Victoria acknowledged the changes had been driven by the need to protect and celebrate Indigenous cultural heritage at the park, but rock climbers needed to be consulted.

“Climbing Victoria fully supports a management plan that provides robust protections for Indigenous cultural heritage and provides resources for sharing and celebrating this heritage with the wider community,” the statement read.

“However, we ask that the Allan government and particularly Minister Dimopoulos acknowledge these changes, which severely curtail climbing in the park, and will have a profound impact on the Victorian climbing community and the local Natimuk and Horsham communities.”

 

The Climbing Victoria spokesperson said despite 90 per cent of the park’s visitors – estimated at one million each year, many who are international visitors – being climbers, the climbing community had not been engaged in the development of the management plan changes. 

“We ask the government ensure the climbing community is now at least provided a genuine path for in-person input and engagement in the finalisation and activation of the management plan, including the proposed investments,” the statement read.

“We encourage the climbing community to understand and respect these changes, and actively participate in the engagement process that can help to support a healthy climbing environment at Mt Arapiles Dyurrite long into the future. 

“We also encourage climbers to continue to visit Mt Arapiles Dyurrite where some of the best traditional climbing in Australia remains.”

Barengi Gadjin Land Council, BGLC, deputy chair Lyn Mace said Indigenous people had lived in and cared for the area 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,” she said.

“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.”

An online community information session is scheduled for between 5.30pm and 7pm next Wednesday, November 13.

Visit engage.vic.gov.au/dyurrite to provide feedback.

The entire November 6, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!