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Mt Alexandra crag near Mittagong: Call to Action

 The Australian Climbing Association (NSW) (ACANSW)  has some dire news regarding access to climbing areas at Mt Alexandra crag near Mittagong. Seems the local Wingecarribee Shire Council (WSC), without consultation with any climbing organisation, has enacted closure of Mt Alexandra crag near Mittagong. This despite years of work by ACANSW consulting with local custodians about access to these amazing climbing areas.

Please write to the Hon Mark Banasiak MP (Shooters and Fishers Party NSW) who is chairing the NSW inquiry into public access to public lands in NSW and voice your objections. 

His email: mark.banasiak@parliament.nsw.gov.au 

Link to ACANSW post... https://www.acansw.org.au/index.cfm?module=news&pagemode=indiv&page_id=3122600

Even expensive gates put up blocking access on a public trail (below). 

Enough of this nonsense - these places are for ALL to enjoy.


What can you do in the meantime? 

  • Call WSC as suggested in the regulatory sign to ask where the alternative areas are. Be polite but register your opposition to the closure. Council Phone number: 02 48680888
  • Lodge your objections to the closure of the crag and of the road in writing, provide personal examples of what the crag means to you: mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
  • Contact WSC general manager Lisa Miscamble Lisa.miscamble@wsc.nsw.gov.au
  • Contact the local state member for Wollondilly: Judy Hannan MP office@judyhannan.com.au
  • Contact your own state member of Parliament

Acting Mayor: erin.foley@wsc.nsw.gov.au

Councillors WSC:

heather.champion@wsc.nsw.gov.au

therese.duffy@wsc.nsw.gov.au

james.farrell@wsc.nsw.gov.au

david.kent@wsc.nsw.gov.au

sara.moylan@wsc.nsw.gov.au

rachel.russell@wsc.nsw.gov.au

nicole.smith@wsc.nsw.gov.au

 


UPDATE: The draft management plan with claims of catastrophic damage to artwork at Mt Alexandra was presented to council in April 2022. It would have taken time to prepare that report so council officers would have been well aware prior to this date.

If it was that urgent you would have thought they would have acted that way and contacted the climbing community.
search "climbing" - P379, "Catastrophic impacts on Aboriginal heritage have occurred from unauthorised and unmanaged rock-climbing activities at numerous sites within Mt Alexandra reserve. Council needs to fulfil its statutory duty to protect these sites in liaison with the Aboriginal community and NSW Heritage."
The plan called for consultation with "stakeholders" - as people are aware - this never occurred.
P394 "Mt Alexandra Reserve: Develop a management strategy to manage impacts from rock climbing at Mt Alexandra Reserve in consultation with the Aboriginal Community and stakeholders. This would include signage, site monitoring, a communications
strategy and clear articulation of penalties for site disturbance."


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