Image credit to http://www.reconciliation.org.au
This week is National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, achievements and relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. It is an opportunity to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation.
Following recent media pressure, Parks Victoria has declared a media shutdown and appears to be working to resolve some of the fallout from the February 2019 Special Protection Area advice. Parks Victoria has invited all Licensed Tour Operators (LTOs) to a meeting in Halls Gap at 11am on Tuesday 4th June, and includes representatives from ACAV, the VCC and other stakeholder groups.
Continue readingACAV is certainly ensuring the issue of rock climbing access remains on the Spring Street agenda as we see activities gain momentum this week. In recent weeks ACAV has actively engaged the media and directly approached the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for the Environment) and subsequently there have been several positive climbing access stories in mainstream media. Concurrently, MP David Limbrick assisted us by asking a question to Minister D’Ambrosio in Parliament which positioned the argument at the forefront of the decision makers minds. As a result, ACAV have secured a meeting with Ministers D’Ambrosio’s Office (and other reps, incl the VCC) next Wednesday 05 June, and this is a key step forward.
Continue readingSeveral Freedom of Information requests (FOI’s) have been sent off to Parks Victoria regarding the bans… Mostly from concerned and on-the-ball climbers who saw the urgent need for some transparency early on (it takes at least 30 days to process a FOI).
Continue readingOn Wednesday afternoon (1st May 19) Mike Tomkins, representing the ACAV, met Simon Talbot (Parks Victoria) for the first time to advocate for climbing access in the Grampians National Park.
Climbers have been a respected user group within the Grampians for many years and the apparent intent of Parks Victoria to exclude climbers from the large sections of the Park is of great concern to the climbing community.
Australian Climbing Association (Vic) Inc. 