Hillwood has been shut by the landowner due to climbers disrespecting the landowner's wishes. He placed a sign up last week closing access due to the total fire ban, which was fair enough. When the sign disappeared a few days later, it was assumed that the cliff was open again and that the farmer had removed it. It was in fact some other persons who removed it, either climbers or bogans we don't know. Either way, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for him. He is sick of climber's sense of entitelment to the place, where he gets nothing in return, no thanks or a bottle of wine every now and then as a token of appreciation, people going in with a chainsaw to clear tracks without his permission, people running commercial climbing groups without his permission and making financial gain off his land, and he is also very stressed about legal liability.
This is non-negotiable on his part for the time being, at least until easter. I have arranged to meet him after Easter to review the situation, so please don't anyone else contact him..he is seriously pissed. But until then, its trespassers prosecuted at Hillwood. |