Arapiles/Dyurrite revised draft plan
10th August 2026
By ACAQ
ACAQ has joined with other access organisations from around Australia to make the attached statement providing qualified support for the revised draft plan and calling for Parks Victoria and the Government to adopt a similar process to reverse the blanket climbing closures in the Grampians. The statement has been sent to Parks Victoria and Ministers and shadow Ministers in Victoria and is availalbe in the link below.
ACAQ welcomes that, rather than blanket bans or closures being proposed, individual climbs were assessed against the risk of harm to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage with involvement of some members of the climbing community, under confidentiality agreements.
Our support is qualified because the public cannot independently assess the information underlying every decision, including the proposed closure of a small number of highly valued climbs, and there is no public explanation on the kinds of cultural heritage and what the potential harm to it was to justify the closures.
The new plan is in the form of an Addendum to be attached to the 1991 Management Plan. https://engage.vic.gov.au/download/document/47304
This new addendum for Dyurrite/Arapiles is a major shift from the original draft plan which proposed closure of around 60 percent of routes at Australia's most beloved rock climbing area. In this new plan, closures are very granular, and we understand only occurred when it was concluded that no mitigating measures could be put in place to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage. While we share the disappointment that some highly valued and historic routes such as Trojan, Christian Crack, Masada and the Rack will be off limits, over 95% of climbing routes will be accessible if this addendum is accepted and once mitigation measures have been adopted. The guidance framework used by the sub working group is able to be read on Climbing Victoria's website.
We urge climbers to engage respectfully in feedback on the plan. This can be done via the engage Victoria portal:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/dyurrite
Aboriginal Cultural heritage in Queensland
Importantly, there are some key differences in our law to those in Victoria due to ‘safe harbour guidelines’ which if complied with mean that there is no illegal harm under the law. This provides more certainty on what is and isn't allowed. In Queensland merely being in a place where there is cultural heritage (tangible or intangible) does not constitute illegal harm under the Act, where there is no ground disturbance or physical interference with any artifacts.
This means that normal and responsible climbing in Queensland should not normally be contrary to or prohibited by our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation.
We are mindful that advocacy for climbing access is best served where it coexists with respect for all cultural heritage and the rights of First Nations peoples. In recent years, it’s been ACAQ’s experience that the more dialogue and discussion between ourselves, land managers, and traditional owners results in better understanding and generally allows for the coexistence of rockclimbing with other recreational uses, and respecting the traditional owner’s cultural heritage.
Website: Statement on Arapiles/Dyurrite revised plan