It is with shock and confusion that Australia’s climbing community has received news from Parks Victoria about substantial access bans to thousands of climbs in the Grampians National Park and Arapiles, including several world-class climbing areas including Taipan Wall.
A new draft Management Plan has been published by Parks Victoria in late 2020 and this document proposes to completely ban bouldering as an activity and only allow access to 22% of roped climbing areas. Several groups have put forward detailed submissions that show Parks Victoria that climbers are serious about putting forward worlds best practice in protecting Cultural Heritage and managing / minimizing environmental impacts.
Banning access to widescale areas without cause is unreasonable, excessive, and unenforceable. The Grampians climbing ban has been brought in without any serious consultation, and without hearing genuine solutions offered by the climbing community.
Climbers are generally extremely respectful of cultural values, and respectful of Culture Heritage. Climbers also tread lightly on the environment, and as such feel grossly mistreated by Parks Victoria.
There are complex issues at play, and this site will hopefully shed some light on the complexities from both sides, and what climbers can do in response.
Please check these posts for the latest updates:
- Park Vic ranger’s harassment & intimidation of climbers – a personal story
- Nanny-State Rules coming soon to YOU
- World Class No More – Days Roll By
- GGLMP – This is all we can manage folks
- Auditor-General investigates Parks Victoria and archeologist Ben Gunn
Alex Honnold, possibly the most influential climber in the world:
“The Grampians might have the best rock on Earth (a claim that I’ve heard in many places around the world, but is probably true in the Grampians)”
Save Grampians Climbing 