Climbing Victoria statement, Dyurrite Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park
This is a statement from Climbing Victoria, (the peak body representing outdoor climbers in Victoria) in response to the Victorian Government media release today regarding changes to the Management Plan for Mt Arapiles-Tooan State Park, known by the Indigenous community as Dyurrite.
Climbing Victoria acknowledges that these changes have been driven by the need to protect and celebrate the Indigenous cultural heritage and value of the park. 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.
However, we ask that the Allan government and particularly Minister Dimopoulos to acknowledge that these changes, which severely curtail climbing in the park, will have a profound impact on the Victorian climbing community and the local Natimuk and Horsham communities. Despite 90% of the parks visitors being climbers, the climbing community has not been engaged in the development of the management plan changes. We ask that the government ensure that 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.
Climbing Victoria looks forward to the opportunity to work directly with Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC) and Parks Victoria, to make this the most extraordinary cultural and climbing area in this cherished place.
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.
Media enquiries in the first instance can be directed to: hello@climbingvictoria.com and we will be back to you via email or phone you the same business day.
