Local Council bans climbing at Mt Alexandra crag near Mittagong: Call to Action

 

Dear climbers, 

We are sad to report that land managers are at it again – Wingecarribee Shire Council (WSC), without consultation with any climbing organisation, has enacted closure of Mt Alexandra crag near Mittagong to climbers.  A gate has been placed across the road halfway up the hill, and a regulatory sign placed in the old car park. Climbing has occurred at this crag for 40 years, and it is an excellent place for beginners and intermediate climbers with around 130 routes. It features high-quality sandstone walls that are mostly vertical or under vertical. Its accessibility has made it a favourite for those with children, mobility issues and for teaching and rescue training purposes. It is a frequent stopover for those travelling on the Hume highway and many day trippers visit from Sydney and Canberra, contributing significantly to the visitor economy.

The reason WSC have provided is damage to Aboriginal cultural heritage. We believe the heritage in question is the art motifs in the First cave that were rediscovered in 2009. We have outlined in recent news articles our awareness of this situation and remediation actions, which occurred months ago.

We reiterate that our climbing organisations acknowledge and respect Aboriginal cultural heritage and its ongoing importance to Aboriginal culture and all Australians. However, there are opportunities to coexist and Mt Alexandra provides a perfect example of how this could occur.

 In summary, climbers became aware of art in the First Cave through their own investigations in June. Despite many interactions with WSC over recent years, the Council failed to discuss any concern regarding climbing at Mt Alexandra or cultural heritage impacts. After learning of the art near climbs, climbers reached out to Aboriginal representatives, met with them and within a month, under Traditional custodian supervision, the area was carefully remediated. Climbing in proximity to the artworks is no longer possible. 

We feel climbers have behaved with integrity, responsibly and rapidly. We feel WSC has failed in these values and failed in its stated vision of striving to make a positive impact in its community. 

A community is a place where people come together and work collaboratively for the common good. Instead, WSC seems determined to scapegoat climbers for 16 years of Council inaction on this matter. It is as if they have taken a leaf from the playbook used by previous management of Parks Victoria where blanket bans and secrecy were thought to be appropriate management tools. 

In addition, the WSC unilateral road closure significantly impacts the area's accessibility, particularly for locals who frequent the area for walking and sightseeing and short sessions at the crag and for those with mobility restrictions.

ACANSW and CCA are working together on this matter and have written to WSC and other involved parties with a request to rescind this closure, meet within 2 weeks and move to a co-designed plan of management through collaboration and transparency.

This closure could form the basis of a telling case study for the current NSW Parliamentary Enquiry into public land access.

WSC has failed to seize an opportunity to demonstrate how protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage and legitimate outdoor recreation can coexist. 

We believe that the implications of the WSC response to protect heritage by enacting widespread and unwarranted closures undermines societal cohesion. If land managers suggest the only way to protect heritage is widespread closures, the future looks bleak. A shared future, not a shut future, is something to which we aspire.

What can you do in the meantime? 

• Call WSC as suggested in the regulatory sign to ask where the alternative areas are. Be polite but register your opposition to the closure. Council Phone number: 02 48680888
• Lodge your objections to the closure of the crag and of the road in writing, provide personal examples of what the crag means to you: mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
• Contact WSC general manager Lisa Miscamble Lisa.miscamble@wsc.nsw.gov.au

• Contact the local state member for Wollondilly: Judy Hannan MP office@judyhannan.com.au
• Contact your own state member of Parliament

• Contact the Minister for Environment and Heritage the Hon Penny SharpeMLC: Penny.Sharpe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
• Contact the Acting Mayor and councillors:

Acting Mayor: erin.foley@wsc.nsw.gov.au

Councillors WSC:

heather.champion@wsc.nsw.gov.au

therese.duffy@wsc.nsw.gov.au

james.farrell@wsc.nsw.gov.au

david.kent@wsc.nsw.gov.au

sara.moylan@wsc.nsw.gov.au

rachel.russell@wsc.nsw.gov.au

nicole.smith@wsc.nsw.gov.au

 

• Join ACANSW or SRC or CCA as appropriate. Urge your club or university group to become community members of ACANSW. Your membership helps climbers voices get heard. 

We will be examining all avenues of appeal to escalate this matter. If you wish to get involved directly with the effort please contact ACANSW president at president.nsw@climb.org.au or the CCA southern Highlands rep at jtarock@gmail.com