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Save Mt Coolum Campaign. A Call to Arms. 29-Mar-2011 At 12:47:51 PM phil_nev

Message

I did my part too..

Attention: The Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Phil Neville. I am a Melbourne based rock climber who has traveled extensively throughout Australia and the world in pursuit of my passion for climbing.

I am writing to express my concerns in response to the Draft Mount Coolum National Park management Plan 2011.

I speak for not only myself, but my many climbing friends in Australia and around the world when I say that we as a climbing community understand the need to ensure the park is managed in a way that ensures the conservation and sustainability of the area, now and for the future. I believe you would find that many climbers participate in clean up days, track work programs and the like to assist Parks authorities in the management of these areas.

There is a section within the Draft management proposal which states that special activities (this includes climbing) will require a permit, insurance and compulsory peak body membership. This appears to be a blanket approach, which quite frankly is a lazy way of dealing with the management issues in the area. You will find that consultation with climbers on these issues would yield a far more successful result than these type of restrictions, which I believe are set to fail.

Another issue with this type of approach is that it not only discriminates against climbers as valid stake holders in the outdoor recreation community, but it will severely impede the accessibility of climbing as a recreational pursuit for most people. To suggest that an individual should have their own insurance is at odds with the QLD premiers Q2 vision by placing a barrier to outdoor recreation. I am sure that if these type of restrictions were to be imposed on bush walkers there would be a massive uproar.

Please don't think that just because the climbing community is Australia is small, that we should not have a voice.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you further if required.

Kind Regards,

Phil Neville