Proposed access restrictions to Mt Arapiles

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have signed this petition.

[juz]

Due to many issues, the original feedback period on Engage Victoria was extended. However it closes tomorrow afternoon. I would encourage everyone here to put in a short written submission at least.

It is important to note that Parks quietly added a handful of documents to the information pack at the end of January, less than a fortnight ago. To me the most important release has been the “Djurrite Cultural Landscape Decision Making Framework”. It is available on Engage Vic ( https://engage.vic.gov.au/download/document/38605 ).

Whilst this document only applies to Rock Climbing at Djurrite, if this same decision making framework was applied to other places that we love to camp, bushwalk or paddle than all of these activities throughout the state would be in peril. I would encourage everyone to read through this document at least. I will provide the key things that caught my eye here:

The document was created with Parks Victoria and Barengi Gadjin Land Council working together.

There is no factoring in anything but cultural heritage when deciding on whether or not to ban climbing. No thought given to climbers, society as a whole, local communities, local business, climbers heritage and history etc.

Banned areas are to be big enough to 'obscure the precise location of values'. A chipped rock could be closing whole cliffs!

A simple equation from the framework: Tangible cultural heritage present, means rock climbing banned from the area. No effort at mitigating harm through education or engineering. Parks could put a board walk in to keep people off scatters, put a sign up to keep people away from art etc. No, they have chosen to simply ban people from the whole area.

Tangible cultural heritage means rock shelters, quarries etc. So from now, non-indigenous persons are never to be allowed in a cave in Victoria again? Really!

A second simple equation: Intangible cultural heritage present, means rock climbing banned from the area. The area is to be big enough so rock climbers cannot be seen or heard. So a creation story or ceremony site can mean that any non-indigenous person can no longer be seen or heard in the area.

This framework also highlights that Traditional Owners perceive any new climbing routes as colonisation and thus will not be allowed. Imagine this in the Alpine National Park. No existing, official bushwalking track will mean no more access to the area. That off track bushwalking route up a spur becomes an act of colonisation and will be banned.

This framework bans non-indigenous people from being anywhere near any Aboriginal cultural heritage.

This sets an awful precedent in my opinion that if extended to other areas and activities really threatens the way we interact with our wild places.

And finally bear in mind, that the decision making framework and the closures are still officially not open for feedback or discussion. The official position is still that the extent of the climbing bans are not what is open for consultation. This should alarm everyone. A very strict and hidden (until 4 years after publication and two months after the initial engagement period ended) decision making framework that ignores all factors bar cultural heritage gets implemented. There is no inpartial or public oversight, and no consultation or feedback.

Your quiet, minimal impact recreational use of wild places will be gone before you know it.

If that is not enough to get you to write a submission, how about $1500? Take the time to write a well thought out submission and enter the competition https://www.bogong.com.au/save-arapiles generously ran by Bogong, Melbourne Climbing School and Climb West.

This effects all bush user groups.

[CraigVIC]

New CEO appointed, all but two members of the board replaced, the new leadership team for Parks Vic

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-lead ... s-victoria

[peregrinator]

New CEO appointed, all but two members of the board replaced, the new leadership team for Parks Vic

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-lead ... s-victoria

As government funding for Parks Vic continues to decline. Further reducing the ability of leadership to do much leading.

https://vnpa.org.au/our-parks-under-att ... m-of-spin/

[CraigVIC]

It's easy to end up thinking the VNPA has a role as a peak body for bushwalkers (especially as BV don't do any advocacy) but they are very far from that. They don't have anything of use to add in terms of access advocacy for walkers or climbers and are acting against our interests as traditional bushwalkers.

[peregrinator]

It's easy to end up thinking the VNPA has a role as a peak body for bushwalkers (especially as BV don't do any advocacy) but they are very far from that. They don't have anything of use to add in terms of access advocacy for walkers or climbers and are acting against our interests as traditional bushwalkers.

I did wonder whether I should have replied to your previous post, given that we were straying somewhat from the topic of Arapiles. So now I'll simply state that I'm not claiming any special status for VNPA. I just used the link as an example of how government funding for Parks Vic continues to decline. It was the first example I came across. No doubt I would have found others had I spent more time searching. I heard a similar comment on ABC radio a few days ago.

Finally, can you please state how VNPA acts against bushwalkers interests?

[CraigVIC]

If it remins online you can check their notes for the letter writing campaign supporting the current management plan. If you support the vnpa that's fine,I don't care

But; absolutely the vnpa are about closing parks in favour of high visitation sacrificial areas an excluding walkers

[JamesMc]

It's easy to end up thinking the VNPA has a role as a peak body for bushwalkers (especially as BV don't do any advocacy) but they are very far from that. They don't have anything of use to add in terms of access advocacy for walkers or climbers and are acting against our interests as traditional bushwalkers.

I reckon there is a role for an advocacy group which supports Victorian National Parks but which calls Parks Victoria out when they behave badly. VNPA does not do this. By contrast, Victoria's Public Transport Users Association supports organisations like Transport Victoria and Metro Trains Melbourne, but is ready to complain about poor service. Victoria's public transport is better because of PTUA.

It's probably a role for Bushwalking Victoria, but they appear to be captured by Parks Vic, like the Victorian Climbing Club was prior to the start of PV's attacks on climbing in 20219.