Climbers slam Parks Victoria after years of bans smash the industry and Labor’s credibility on parks

Climbers lament Parks Victoria’s lack of consultation over swingeing bans at Mount Arapiles in northwestern Victoria.

A climber in the Mount Arapiles rock-climbing region in Victoria.

Mainstream rock climbing groups were cut out of the decision-making and consultation process at Mount Arapiles, where Parks Victoria has overseen the gutting of the pursuit.

Climbing Victoria spokesman Mike Rockell accused Parks Victoria of misrepresenting the situation after bans on up to half of all routes in northwestern Victoria were imposed.

“The process has been very cynical,’’ he said.

For the past four years, Parks Victoria has claimed it has been briefing and keeping interest groups updated on the impact of its draconian rock climbing bans.

Mr Rockell said the reconciliation group Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network had been used by the local Indigenous group to examine climbing routes at the rock. But GWRN has conceded it did not advocate on behalf of climbers; rather, it merely helped the Barengi Gadjin Land Council by explaining the basics of where people had climbed.

GWRN is a low-profile group that includes climbers but has focused on reconciliation at the same time that Parks Victoria has destroyed rock climbing at Mount Arapiles and at the nearby Grampians National Park.

Mr Rockell said climbers made up 90 per cent of the visitation to Arapiles, also known as Dyurrite, but Parks Victoria had not included them in the assessments.

“We’ve not been involved or consulted at all prior to the announcement,’’ he said. “Really it’s been zero involvement from anyone in the climbing community.’’

It comes as GWRN, which was formed as a result of the climbing bans, openly admitted it didn’t help climbers, despite having been formed to help address the fallout of the previous climbing bans at the Grampians.

GWRN said: “We did not act on behalf of the climbing community or claim to act as ‘consultation’ with the climbing comm­unity. We have always been clear that our relationship as a reconciliation network is with the traditional owners. Climbing Victoria is the peak body for outdoor climbing in Victoria.”

But Mr Rockwell said Parks Victoria had misrepresented the role of climbers in cultural heritage assessments.

Parks Victoria had claimed: “Following the initial archaeological and ecological surveys, Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network provided a detailed 54-page report, from a rock-climbing perspective, to assist decision-makers. This was used to balance protecting cultural heritage while continuing rock climbing and outdoor recreation in the area with the needed restrictions.”

The 54-page report has not been released, nor has the detail of the cultural heritage assessments, which led to more bans at Arapiles. The size of the bans shocked the climbing community as they will result in fewer overseas visitors and seriously harm the small Wimmera town of Natimuk.

Climbers and town residents are planning a vocal protest against the curbs on climbing. Discussions have included possible sit-ins and even ignoring calls to stop climbing in some areas.

Up to half of all routes are ­predicted to be shut, according to climbers, some of whom are considering openly defying the bans.

But the decision faces a review if the Coalition wins the state election as part of an overall rethink of cultural heritage laws in Victoria.

A change of government is now seen as the only way the bans will be overturned.

GWRN will face heat in their local community over their involvement in the bans process.

Save Grampians Climbing ­estimates up to half of all routes at Mount Arapiles will be closed.

Parks Victoria says the cultural heritage surveys found tens of thousands of artefacts, scarred trees and rock art.