Following rediscoveries of Traditional Owner cultural heritage in the popular climbing site of Dyurrite/Mount Arapiles in Australia by Parks Victoria, the government agency plan to temporarily prohibit public access to 11% of the climbing areas in Dyurrite/Arapiles. In a letter to the Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Victorian Climbing Club (VCC) claim that Parks Victoria are falsely describing some sites as rediscoveries when they are known to both relevant cultural heritage bodies and climbers.

Cultural heritage protection laws have been in place on Dyurrite/Mount Arapiles since 1975. The National Parks Act 1975 declares it an offence to damage archaeological objects, while the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 prohibits harm to cultural heritage. This latest rediscovery of a stone-tool production site, which extends for around 200 metres at the base of the formation, is where Traditional Owners – the Jadawadjali, part of the Wotjobaluk Nations – manufactured a variety of tools from stone.

Kevin Lindorff, President of the VCC, argues in the letter that the one of the major rediscoveries at Tiger Wall is not in fact a rediscovery, and that this site has been known about by Aboriginal Victoria for 25 years, while emphasising that no climber has been charged with damaging cultural history in the 60-year history of climbing at Dyurrite/Arapiles. He told UKC:

'The areas that the public are being asked to stay out of include earlier exclusions of Declaration Crag and Around the World Boulder, as well as a small site near Sonic Boom that people have respected for years without any need for the proclamation of a Set-aside Determination.'

Parks Victoria intend to prohibit public access to:

· the area immediately around and including Mr Chicken boulder (Dyurrite)

· the area immediately around and including Castle Crag (Dyurrite)

· the base of the cliffs running from the Plaque area and along the base of Tiger wall (Dyurrite)

· all of Lil Lil (Black Ian's) in the Black Range State Park

Parks Victoria are planning surveys of particular areas over the next six months, where more bans may be enforced, before putting a new Set Aside Determinations in place to make these bans legally enforceable.

Matthew Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Parks Victoria, commented:

'The Aboriginal cultural heritage of Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park continues to be revealed, with these exciting rediscoveries providing a glimpse into the area's rich history. We know that protecting natural and cultural values can sometimes mean restricting or limiting public access, but it's up to all of us to protect these special places for future generations. Cultural heritage and environmental values can co-exist with recreation – but they must be carefully managed and protected according to legislation.'

In August, a temporary access ban was enforced on two locations in the nearby Gariwerd/The Grampians National Park following the rediscovery of Aboriginal heritage. The entirety of Taipan Wall (Gunigalk), Spurt Wall and a section of Bundaleer (Bugiga) were placed under a 'Temporary Protection Zone' with no public access permitted.

On 28th October, activist group Save Grampians Climbing wrote a blog outlining the discrepancy between Parks Victoria's treatment of climbers and tourists and walkers across various sites. Hollow Mountain in The Grampians National Park, they explain, is both a protected area and a popular tourist spot with a walking track over a rock tool quarry, and climbing is prohibited. Damage to the rock including scratch carvings and graffiti has received press coverage, and photos of tourists scrambling and climbing in the caves have been posted on social media. The group commented in their blog:

'Parks Victoria [PV] allows tourists to damage Aboriginal sites at Hollow Mountain Special Protection Area. PV denies knowledge of the problem and refuses to close area to tourists despite closing numerous climbing sites for the same reason. This proves PV's vendetta against climbers.

'[Parks Victoria] seem happy to close off nearby Taipan Wall and huge sections of Arapiles to everyone as some sort of "temporary protection zone" whilst they sort out the details of assessments and devise new management solutions with TOs. We have been told this could take years to sort out. But don't forget these are predominantly climbing areas, not tourist sites listed on Visit Victoria. Why is Hollow Mountain any different to Taipan Wall? Tourists are walking over and writing on important cultural heritage sites. Parks Victoria – ignore this at your peril.'

Following this Set-aside Determination that was placed on Gariwerd/The Grampians, locals report that visitor numbers have dropped considerably as both national and international climbers avoid the area, who help sustain the local economy and community. Residents in Natimuk have expressed concerns about the negative impact on the town of a further climbing ban at Dyurrite/Arapiles. In the VCC's letter to the Shadow Minister, Kevin Lindorff wrote:

'Local Natimuk residents include a significant proportion of the population who have moved themselves and their families to the town primarily because of the climbing opportunities. They have brought significant skills to the town and the region. The influx of their children into the small local primary school have kept that school from closing. Residents include doctors and other medical professionals, teachers, IT professionals, small- business owners and entrepreneurs, trades-people, artists, rock-climbing guides, and so on. They are involved in various town committees, the CFA, and indeed all aspects of the fabric of town life. The loss of even a significant fraction of such people would be disastrous for Natimuk.'

Traditional Owners are represented in the area by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC). A respresentative, Stuart Harradine, commented:

'We are pleased as the First Nations people of Dyurrite to play a key role in the reidentification and protection of our cultural heritage in this landscape. This is a part of upholding our sacred responsibility to care for Country and culture as passed to us through tens of thousands of years of tradition. We are also pleased that Parks Victoria is able to commit resources to undertake a thorough heritage survey at Dyurrite, an action that we have been eager to see commence in Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park. This will help us assess and put in place protection measures for what we suspect are many more of our heritage sites waiting to be reidentified, and to do so as quickly as possible to provide certainty for recreational users and small business.'

This month, Parks Victoria and Barengi Gadjin Land Council are hosting two public information sessions and meetings with local community groups to discuss the cultural heritage rediscoveries in the park and outline the process for the future assessments.

Long-time NSW climber and lawyer Warwick Baird, who specialises in Indigenous land issues and Reconciliation, commented:

'I wouldn't be surprised if there is still a lot of room to move within the approach the BGLC takes to where and how climbing is acceptable as far as they are concerned.

'The more BGLC learn about climbing and their Aboriginal culture at Dyurrite/Arapiles, the more likely a way may be found for climbing and cultural protection to occur together. Provided there is trust and goodwill. If there isn't, blanket permanent bans are an easy default position.

Everything climbers can do to respect Aboriginal peoples' assertions of culture and give them the time and the space to come to their own understanding of their history and relationship with Dyurrite/Arapiles, the better it is going to be for climbers' interests in the future.'

Relations between climbers and park authorities in Victoria were amicable up until 2018, as Melbourne climber Charlie Creese explained in his 2019 UKC piece 'Australian Access Issues - Breaking Up is Hard to Do'. In February 2019, approximately 550 square kilometres of Gariwerd/The Grampians were deemed off-limits to climbers, with financial penalties set in place.

Two local climbers are taking Parks Victoria to court regarding their refusal to grant their applications to climb at six sites in Gariwerd/The Grampians.