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What we have achieved so-far towards Protecting Victoria's climbing future:
In 1998, we took the lead by employing Australia's first professional Access & Environment Officer. Since then, the VCC Access Officer has helped us to:
1. Maintain a strong and attractive public presence for our CliffCare projects through poster displays in gyms and shops.
This has produced a dramatic growth in the
number of climbers supporting the club and joining in our work parties.
2. Make direct personal contact with land managers.
By building relationships with rangers, we have
been able to find practical solutions before major access problems arise.
This has included:
• Getting support from climbers for an access moratorium on cliffs
near the home of the last Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies in the Grampians,
while keeping open the popular cliff at Mt Fox.
• Siting of new tracks to Mt Rosea and the Gallery.
• Re-opening cliffs on the east side of Flinders Peak in the You Yangs.
• Continuing negotiations for re-opening Hanging Rock to climbers.
3. Organise work parties to repair damage at Mount Arapiles, Camels Hump and Summer Day Valley.Projects are underway at several locations and hundreds of people have volunteered for more than a dozen workdays over the past two years.
We have received more
than $10,000 from Parks Victoria for work at Werribee Gorge. John's
work has meant that we have consistently succeeded with our grant applications. With support from the Conservation Alliance, Parks
Victoria and many of you we have been undertaking the CliffCare Arapiles
Repair Project. We are also beginning an experimental weed control
and native grass regeneration plot along the base of the Organ Pipes.
4. Prevent access problems caused
by land manager fears about their liability for climbing accidents.
Liability fears often centre on bolting.
We engaged CSIRO to test common Australian bolting techniques. With
these results, we are helping Parks Victoria to develop a pragmatic
policy that recognises that limited use of bolts can reduce environmental
impact and improve safety. A sensible policy on bolts is a vital step
towards dealing with environmental damage at many popular cliffs used
by commercial and school groups, re-opening Tongue Point at Wilson's
Prom, and lessening ranger anxiety about climbing across the state.
How can climbers affect Peregrine Falcons? We
have sought advice from the experts and published detailed information
about the way these spectacular birds nest and breed. This helps climbers
to understand the purpose of seasonal cliff closures. On-Line Donations
During 2001 and 2002, we have been completing stone terracing below
the Organ Pipes, repairing the track up to the Muldoon area and closing
many unnecessary and ugly walking tracks to and from the Pines
We have reinforced the message that no land manager in the US, the UK
or Australia has ever been successfully sued for negligence in relation
to a climbing accident.
5. Educate climbers about sharing
the cliffs with other species.
CliffCare
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Want to protect you climbing future right now? You can donate online to the Victorian CliffCare Trust through our new
secure facility provided by "ourcommunity.com". Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Your donation will help us to protect the places you love to climb. Just click on the
button on the right!!
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