General News
17 January, 2025
Community voices concerns over Arapiles/Dyurrite plan
Natimuk residents have expressed serious concern about the proposed management plan for Mount Arapiles/Dyurrite during a consultation meeting with Parks Victoria CEO.
The meeting held at the Nati Pub on Tuesday, marked the first direct engagement with the community since the draft plan was released in November 2024.
Locals, climbers, business owners, and politicians voiced their frustrations over the lack of prior consultation and the potential social and economic impact of the proposal.
Natimuk resident Blake Wardell criticized the plan and said that it's not very well drafted.
“The current draft management plan is not very well thought out. It’s not very good, and it’ll be disastrous for the town, economically and socially,” he said.
Climber Alexander Salzer traveled from Melbourne to attend the meeting raised concerns about the proposal’s impact on beginner-friendly climbing areas.
“The proposed plan is rubbish. The lack of consultation with the climbing community and the representative bodies was done very poorly,” he said.
“The proposed plan seems to remove a lot of climbs that are in beginner friendly areas, and will completely remove the ability for anyone coming to Arapiles to have a go at the easier climbs, and will then be forced into the harder grades, which are a lot more dangerous, and where the protection and gear you place is a lot less secure and people won’t be able to learn as much.”
HRCC councillor Brian Klowss also called for more collaboration. “The plan has too many flaws,” he said.
“At the moment, the parks are there listening to the community, so that is just a start, but it needs a lot of work.”
, Parks Victoria's interim CEO Graeme Dear said “I’m here to listen to the community’s concerns and ideas associated with the draft management plan that is out for consultation.”
Local business owner David Kitching warned of the economic impact on those reliant on Mount Arapiles.
While he appreciated the CEO’s willingness to listen, he remained skeptical, saying, “Listening doesn’t get results sometimes.”
Despite these criticisms, the meeting was seen as a positive step. Many attendees expressed hope that their concern will lead to changes in the final management plan.
“It’s good that they’re here to listen,” Mr Salzer said.
“It’s a positive start to something. Well, hopes are high because of the first time it’s happened,” Mr Kitching added.
The Victorian government announced on December 1, 2024, that it had extended the consultation period for the draft management plan for Mount Arapiles until February 14, 2025.
The plan, which proposes the closure of about half the climbing routes, sparked backlash from climbers and locals, who claimed they were left out of the process.
The extension aims to allow more time for discussions and public input.
