Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Mount Arapiles rock climbing

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (19:16): (1273) My adjournment matter is also for the Minister for Environment and concerns the devastating attack on climbers in Victoria announced in the Mount Arapiles management plan. Sadly, I do not have time tonight to do justice to the wideranging, sustained and hostile attack on rock climbing run by this government and its activist staff and agencies in recent years. I have raised it many times here before. They blame climbers for cultural heritage damage perpetrated by their own staff. They deny access to routes, fail to respond to questions, are dismissive of all dealings with the community, but – and I know this is what hurts climbers most – they fundamentally misunderstand, mischaracterise and demonise climbers. Climbers are cultural custodians; no-one is more aware of the landscapes they love.

This ban was cynically announced at 5 pm the day before a public holiday in the week of the American election. There is no way that timing was necessary or accidental. The consultation was non-existent. The peak body for climbing in Victoria, the Australian Climbing Association of Victoria, was blindsided. Parks Victoria claim that the Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network (GWRN) provided a climbing perspective, yet the Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network admit:

We did not act on behalf of the climbing community or claim to act as ‘consultation’ …

There was the usual political spin: a one-off $1.7 million investment in facilities, which will in no way compensate for the massive loss every single year when the 50,000 visitors dry up. This was worth $12 million to the economy in 2019. With half the routes gone, including the internationally famous crags and the best climbs for beginners, it is a real root-and-branch attack. The government’s media release claims that the area will instead become a cultural destination. This is despite the fact that none of the cultural heritage assessments have been released. The fact is there are no pictures or images circulated and there is an extremely limited amount of visible examples of rock art. Some believe there is none at all. It is going to be the world’s most disappointing tourist attraction. Yes, there are extensive stone quarry complexes, but these are hard rock and have been there for decades undamaged by visitors. Route diversion, mitigation and limited closures would have been welcomed by climbers, but this ban is draconian, unnecessary, unjustified.

I ask the minister to order the immediate release of the cultural heritage assessments and the GWRN’s advice to Barengi Gadjin Land Council. These are not personal or commercially confidential. Moreover, they are publicly financed and have significant consequences for Victorians. They should be released for public scrutiny immediately.

The PRESIDENT: Before I call the minister, I have a concern with Mr Puglielli’s adjournment. It falls within Mr Davis’s adjournment to some degree. I am going to review both of those adjournment matters. I am referring to a ruling of President Elasmar, which is actually a very good ruling as far as advocating to the federal government goes, which is that it is an acceptable action if the member can show a direct link to state services and state administration. Mr Puglielli, we are going to review it, but I reckon it is not going through. Mr Davis may have linked to state services, but I will review that.