A climber named Jenna stands at the base of Mt. Arapiles, her chalk bag slung over her shoulder and a well-worn climbing map in hand. The recent developments at this culturally and physically sacred rock face feel deeply personal to her. 'It’s like walking a tightrope,' she said. 'You want to protect what makes this place special, without losing its spirit.'
A contentious proposal and a public outcry
In November 2024, Parks Victoria, the entity responsible for managing the land, proposed a significant change to the management plan for Dyurrite, the mountain's indigenous name. The proposal aimed to greatly limit access to the climbing routes, claiming it was essential to safeguard the area's cultural heritage. However, the proposal was criticized for its lack of meaningful engagement with climbers and the local population, and it quickly became a point of controversy.
Climbers and members of the local community swiftly responded by submitting more than 1,000 responses and 581 written submissions to the consultation. These responses were not just from climbers — people from across the region voiced their concerns, emphasizing the mountain's significance to both the indigenous traditional owners and the broader community.
The response from the public was so intense that within weeks, the CEO of Parks Victoria resigned, and the proposal was put on hold. This marked the start of a two-year process to rebuild trust and find a solution that would satisfy all parties involved.
Building trust through collaboration
To move forward, a new working group was established. It included representatives from the Barengi Gadjin land council, climbers, local community organizations, government, and commercial guiding businesses. Over the course of a year, the group met multiple times, culminating in an intensive five-day workshop where sensitive information about the cultural heritage sites was shared among participants.
Each cultural heritage site was evaluated individually using a detailed risk matrix. When a climbing route was found to intersect with a culturally significant area, the group explored possible solutions — such as rerouting or implementing mitigation measures. If neither option was viable, the route was proposed for closure. The results of the workshop were compiled into a document that outlined the detailed protection strategy for the cultural heritage of Dyurrite.
The plan was then presented to the Traditional Owner families, the decision-making body of the Barengi Gadjin, during a full meeting. Their approval was critical, and they ultimately endorsed the proposal.
A revised proposal with fewer restrictions
The newly proposed plan significantly reduces the original level of restrictions. Thousands of climbing routes will remain open to climbers. At the same time, the cultural heritage of the mountain — including hundreds of ancient quarrying sites and scattered remains of stone tools — is now better protected.
Climbers have until August 19, 2026, to provide feedback on the revised proposal. For climbers like Jenna, the time to deliberate is essential. 'You don’t want to rush this,' she said. 'You want to make sure it’s right — for the mountain, for the people, and for the future.'
Mt. Arapiles has been a spiritual home for rock climbing in Australia for decades. With over 3,000 traditional climbing routes, excellent rock quality, a wide variety of difficulty levels, and a relaxed environment, the mountain continues to attract thousands of climbers annually. But for the Barengi Gadjin people, the mountain is far more than a climbing destination — it is a place of deep cultural meaning and history.
The new management proposal from Parks Victoria is the result of a long process that allowed for open dialogue, listening, and mutual understanding. While no compromise is perfect, it represents a significant step forward in finding a sustainable solution. For the climbers, the local community, and the Barengi Gadjin, it's the best path forward — one that honors the past while protecting the mountain's future.