Update for Climbers about Mt Alexandra closure by Wingecarribee Shire Council

We hope everyone had fun climbing on the long weekend. Sadly, anyone planning on climbing at Mt Alexandra would have had to change plans. 

It's been two weeks since it was announced by Wingecarribee Shire Council that climbing at Mt Alexandra was banned. 

 

ACANSW and Canberra Climbers Association have been busy addressing this closure. 

 

Thank you to everyone who has contacted WSC. They have been inundated by respectful communications that relay the passion and stewardship that climbers hold for the crag. They have replied to many people with an excerpt from the reply they sent us. 

 

Our response to that communication has focused on some main issues- including: 

• separating the issue of road closure and crag closure
• Recognising the need for Aboriginal cultural protection, maintaining that although the legal (and moral)  duty is clear, it does not automatically require blanket bans. Proportionate, evidence based controls that avoid harm also satisfy land managers’ duty.
• Offering practical solutions that WSC could pursue
• Arguing against the singling out of climbing while allowing other users access. If risk exists, controls should be consistent across activities. 
• Asking what has precipitated the action, without consultation, when the plan of management clearly indicates that stakeholder engagement will occur
• Raising probity issues about the handling of submissions in the 2024 public submission opportunity for the plan of management
• Demonstrating multiple missed opportunities for WSC to directly engage on this issue despite numerous formal and informal interactions over the past few years

 

Media: there have been interviews on ABC Illawarra radio, 2ST local radio and 2GB radio. The Daily Mail has printed a news article. Mysterious pictures accompanying the latter two media stories showed a tropical paradise with ocean views- turns out there is a Mt Alexandra in Queensland. WIN news has also conducted interviews with the ACANSW vice president and local resident, Tim Macartney- Snape, which should air this week. The issue has also been covered by Vertical Life.

 

Further Letters and submissions:

We have written again to Aboriginal representatives, making it clear that this is not a dispute about the importance of protecting cultural heritage or a diminishment of the importance of the area to Aboriginal people, and reaffirming a desire to meet about this issue. 

 

Collaboration: we are discussing the issue with other representative groups that are concerned about public land access

 

Parliamentary enquiry into public land and waterway access: we have provided a late supplementary submission to our existing submission for the NSW select committee on Access restrictions to Public Lands

 

An application for a formal GIPA request (Government Information Public Access)  has been submitted.

 

Further action: 

-WSC is arranging a meeting with climbing representatives in the near future. 

-There is likely to be an opportunity to present to WSC in mid-October. We will notify people of such an opportunity and seek support from climbers when this is confirmed.

We are in discussions with Outdoor NSW and ACT

 

We have not discounted other avenues of appeal.

 

Our desired outcome is that all parties come together, that consultation and engagement occurs so that we can work towards a mutually beneficial outcome that recognises and protects cultural heritage but enables climbing with suitable buffers.

 

We are aware that this issue is emotive and has the potential to generate abusive commentary. There has been little of this in NSW from the climbing community and we would not expect it. The issue has been hijacked by some to support their own agendas. We would like to reiterate points published by Climbing Victoria and endorsed by our organisation: 

 

A Zero-Tolerance Stance on Racism

Racism in any form—whether explicit, casual, or systemic—has no place in the climbing community. Specific instances of racism in the context of climbing access debates, include:

●  Direct abuse or harassment of individuals based on their Aboriginality

●  Attempts to silence or delegitimise Aboriginal voices and perspectives

●  Denigration of Aboriginal culture, identity, and self-determination

●  Attempts to dismiss the legal and cultural rights of First Nations peoples.

These behaviours are not only harmful to individuals but also to the collective effort to build a climbing community grounded in respect, inclusion, and shared values. Such actions are unacceptable and will not be excused under any circumstances.