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General Climbing Discussion

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Grampians Access 2019 18-Mar-2019 At 7:28:12 PM Ball_Bagg

Message

I am still confused.
>
>In broader Special Protected Areas, outside those eight key locations,
>Parks Victoria is sharing the information materials on rock climbing and
>undertaking enforcement activity relating to other activities not permitted
>in any National Park including cutting or damaging vegetation (for instance
>to make or enhance tracks), lighting fires outside of designated fireplaces,
>depositing litter, interfering with Aboriginal cultural heritage such as
>rock art or any damage to rock faces such as drilling holes. We are not
>enforcing no rock climbing activity in broader Special Protected Areas
>at this stage and will communicate if anything changes.

In the last sentence of this paragraph Simon Talbot “we are not enforcing no rock climbing activity in SPAs”.
OK this bit is clear - climbing in SPAs is allowed but no bolting, no track clearing etc but after the three*** , is this Simon still talking or is it a Cliffcare interpretation?

Lower down it says....

>”Our understanding at this stage is that:”
>......
>”Rangers will inform you that you should not climb in the SPAs outside
>of the eight focus sites (blue squares on the first map issued by PV) as
>part of an education process, but will not fine you.” You will be fined
>if you litter, cut, remove or damage vegetation, light fires outside of
>designated fireplaces, interfere with any cultural heritage or rock art
>in these areas,deface or drive off track.”
>
It’s open to interpretation and therefore confusion. Call me paranoid but it’s give wriggle room to an enforcer who may want to interpret the policy in their favour. It has happened before!

1. If Simon Talbot says the bans in SPAs will not be enforced why would a ranger inform me that I should not climb.
2. If the ranger tells me “I should not climb” do I just keep climbing? And what happens then?
3. What exactly does “SPAs outside the eight focus sites” mean? Does it mean anywhere in the SPA. For example, if I was climbing at the asses ears a ranger could tell me I shouldn’t be climbing there. Or does it mean the area in a SPA that is close to a blue square like if I climb at the tower then it’s deemed too close to the gallery and I may get told to leave?

I need some clarity on this!