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Fixed gear guidelines in the Grampians 16-May-2018 At 2:16:17 PM Access T CliffCare

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So to clarify a point I noted in one of my posts, CliffCare/VCC are involved in this.
I have been researching various approaches of the best and most efficient way to present Fixed Protection and Development guidelines to the community for discussion and feedback after the Black Range issues. The guidelines that Kieran has started off on a new thread(after the Blimp one) pretty much align with the guideline discussion that has been on the drawing board. And as you can see, it's complex. I am very thankful and pleased that members of the climbing community are helping to develop this. I think that those who think it's not getting anywhere are maybe, a bit short of patience. It's been 5 days on one internet forum where people are on briefly and can only comment when they have time or headspace. So some comments referencing a number of posts:

As it is such a complex job, working on the Grampians is a good place to start. It is where the bulk of issues are going to come from, (they certainly are at the moment) for a variety of reasons which you all know. This will then make it much easier to put together an overall one that may have specifics for certain parks.

I think eventually the scope should cover below the 500m. I understand and agree with the remote cliffs point but my conversations with land managers include more than that.

With the Grampians, I agree it needs to be on a cliff to cliff basis. This will also make it easier to then work on the issue of development in new areas. Kind of like a checklist to run through if you find a new cliff. One of the big concerns is not just the use of fixed protection but alongside that the amount of new areas that are being discovered and developed. This then brings in a location aspect rather a cliff. Maybe this is something that will be informed by areas that might already be deemed as sensitive by PV and TO. See next point.

The Management plan of the Grampians is old and is due to be revisited. Not sure when exactly but it is being talked about. When it was written, climbing as an activity wasn't anywhere near as large as it is now. And therefore the plan is not really sensitive to climbers as a user group. Having said that, when it comes down to it, it is what many in PV will reference when there is an issue obviously. The overlays are interesting as there are currently a lot of developed cliffs in the special protection zones. You are talking parts of the Vic Range here. As it stands, supposedly no recreational pursuits are supposed to happen in these areas. It does need to be taken into account but I also think that this conversation and the guidelines will help inform the newer Management Plan of the park. Maybe there are some areas that will be deemed unnacceptable whereas others can be negotiated.

I like the three tier system and would work in an overall guidelines.

Kieran's draft parameters for each cliff in the Grampians gives people the opportunity to look at the current situation with that particular cliff and provide feedback relevant to it rather than trying to apply the bigger picture to something that might have some specific requirements.

A general fixed protection and development guideline should be in place and I will work with the community on this. And also develop something akin to a Memorandum of Understanding with Land managers and Traditional Owners.

VCC Bolt Policy. There is currently a VCC Bolt Policy people can access. This is in the process of being revisited and updated.

As Kieran noted this needs to go to a broader audience.I am keen and happy to meet in person to thrash out some kind of document which I can use reference in my discussions with PV and also start putting out to the community via all my usual networks be it social media, climbing media, newsletters and contact list. I will drop a couple of you emails or messages. Anyone else who is keen to be involved in this past this forum, please drop me a line cliffcare@vicclimb.org.au

Kieran and others, would you be happy if I promote the conversation on this site for the immediate time frame to get more feedback in order to develop the draft? Or preference to develop a draft travelling along at this pace on this site and then put it elsewhere?

Great work people!