Natimuk locals fear their tiny town will die if traditional owners go ahead with bizarre Mount Arapiles ban

A close-knit small country town is protesting the closure of Australia’s most famous rock climbing site, fearing it could mean the death of their community.

Up to half of the tracks around Mount Arapiles in western Victoria will be closed after Parks Victoria found tens of thousands of native artefacts, scarred trees and rock art.

Nicknamed the heart of Australian rock climbing, the mountain is the lifeblood of the nearby town of Natimuk, which is 300km from Melbourne.

Local publican Bill Lovell didn’t mince his words when describing what the closure of Arapiles could mean for the town home to just over 500 residents.

“If the climbers don’t come here, the staff won’t get hours,” he said A current issue.

Amanda Wilson from the Lister House Medical Clinic in nearby Horsham said four of her 17 doctors had moved to the area specifically for the famous rock climbing monument.

“If we lost 25 percent of our physicians, we would impact 30,000 patients,” she said.

Wayne Webb has built his entire livelihood around the city’s climbing addiction.

Parks Victoria found tens of thousands of native artefacts, battered trees and rock art around Mount Arapiles, a popular rock climbing destination

He runs a climbing equipment shop and talks every day to climbers who feel ‘connected’ to the mountain.

‘This is not just a ban on climbers. It is a ban for everyone,” Mr Webb said.

Locals have also objected to the government’s plan to install new facilities in the park surrounding the mountain, despite it being closed to climbers.

The $1.7 million project includes new grills, tables, restrooms, parking and signs.

“For decades, people have been fighting to keep the infrastructure away to keep it pristine,” Webb said.

“This isn’t just a ban for climbers. It’s a ban for everyone,” said local Gordon Webb.

A petition from locals to keep the mountain open to mountaineers has already attracted more than 8,000 signatures and closes on January 31.

Locals also claim the government has not properly considered or addressed their concerns about the damage the closure would cause.

State Environment Officer Steve Dimopoulos told the program he had been tasked with Parks Victoria working with the local community and climbers “to showcase the recreational, environmental and cultural attractions.”

The Victorian government announced the shock closure earlier this month, shortly after Premier Jacinta Allan previously pledged she would not padlock Victoria’s state forests.

“As Prime Minister and as a proud Victorian country, I will never put a padlock on our public forest,” she declared in August.

“I know there are people who are concerned about the future of our state’s forests. And I understand that there has to be a balance. There are areas we need to protect, areas we need to preserve.

“But for me, the most important thing we can do for our bush is to make sure it is enjoyed.”

Local publican Bill Lovell (pictured) said the closure of Mount Arapiles to climbers ‘could be the death of the town’

Up to half of tracks around Victoria’s Mt Arapiles will be closed after discovery of Indigenous heritage connection

Climbers lambasted Ms Allan for apparently going back on her word with a decision to close the epicenter of Australian rock climbing.

What’s even more insulting is the fact that climbers were largely responsible for restoring Mount Arapiles, also known as Dyurrite, after it was previously used as a shooting range.

Opposition spokesman James Newbury accused Ms Allan at the time of misleading climbers with her comments.

“Jacinta Allan has been caught talking with both sides of her mouth again,” he said.

‘Despite promising not to close our park, her government has been caught making secret deals. And within weeks, Labor has admitted it will ram new laws through parliament that will further confine parks. Jacinta Allan’s promises are worthless.’

It is likely that the artifacts found around Mount Arapiles are mainly crushed stone. Scar trees can be found throughout western Victoria, but rock art is much rarer.

Obviously, most of the petroglyphs in the national park are not visible to the naked eye.

The state government recently confirmed it would legislate for a new Wombat-Lerdderg National Park and Mount Buangor National Park from Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park by November.

A petition from locals to keep the mountain open to climbers and hikers has more than 8,000 signatures

Parks Victoria said the survey, completed in partnership with the local Barengi Gadjin Land Council, was conducted between November 2020 and February 2023.

“These surveys were intended to document cultural heritage and regionally important threatened plants and investigate the impact of recreational activities on this rich cultural and ecological landscape,” the report said.

‘The specific focus of the research was on the climbing areas identified through the Crag – a global online database of climbing and bouldering areas – and the informal trail network created to connect climbing areas to each other and to the formal trail network.

‘Located on the sandstone slopes on the east side of Dyurrite (Mount Arapiles) and the sandstone slopes of Miter Rock, the study area included 153 climbing areas and more than 35 kilometers of informal hiking trails leading to and between these climbing areas.’