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Sydney - North Head / The Gap POM review 9-Dec-2009 At 9:30:30 AM capt_mulch

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Hi all (yeah, yeah, long time no post).

I'm working on a submission by the CCA to argue that climbing should be an allowed activity in Sydney Harbour National Park. This is a subject close to my heart as it is where I grew up and part of my old (and current) stomping ground. Following is part of my argument:
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The 1998 plan of management states:

The following objectives apply in the management of Sydney Harbour National Park:

· interpretation of a range of historic places which illustrate important aspects of Australia’s history, including the history of public recreation on the harbour and its foreshores.
· provision of outdoor recreation opportunities which are compatible with the protection of the natural and cultural values of the park and complement those available elsewhere in the centre of Sydney; and
· promotion of the park as an important, readily accessible recreational and educational resource for metropolitan Sydney (p.8.para.2).

So part of my argument is that climbing is part of the 'history of public recreation', is 'compatible with the protection of the natural and cultural values' and climbing should be part of the 'accessible recreational... resource'.

There's also a stupid wally statement in the plan of management that states:

“rock climbing [has] never been permitted in Sydney Harbour National Park due to the small size of the park and the incompatibility of these activities with other park uses” (p.37 para.3).

which is a very strange justification. I'm trying to hunt down a NationalParks reference that says climbing was banned prior to the 1998 plan of management.

I've emailed Mikl about this and he's given me a bit of history, but he has suggested I put a call out on Chocky for any of the old crew who could fill in with a bit of the history of early climbing within the area of what is now SHNP. Also, if anyone can point me in the direction of where I'd find a rule/law whatever that specificially states that climbing was not permitted prior to 1998.

So, history anyone? Stories, anecdotes, preferably specific and quotable references!!!