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Point Perpendicular - Temporary climbing ban

Climb Point Perp

15-Sep-2013
6:36:51 PM

Hi All,
The Rangers at Point Perp have informed me that due to the Navy centenary celebrations there will be a temporary ban on climbing, abseiling and rock fishing at Point Perpendicular for the period Sunday 29/9/13 to Friday 4/10/13. Camping at Honeymoon Bay will be unaffected by the closure.

For the celebrations there will be a large number of Navy vessels concentrated in Jervis Bay and it is expected that this will attract a considerable number of spectators to the lighthouse, as it is the best vantage point. Due to the limited parking available at the lighthouse Defence have decided to close lighthouse road at the bombing range entrance (OP road) and run a shuttle bus service to the lighthouse for the duration of fleet concentration.

I haven’t been given an official reason for the climbing ban, but reading between the lines I assume that the reason is that the rangers don’t want to answer any curly questions from the top brass over how they are ‘risk managing’ climbing. Climbing has never really been officially sanctioned at Point Perp and I think it is probably in the best interest of climbers to respect the short ban and keep under the radar. The last thing we need is a ‘management plan’.

If you are a boat spotter I’ve been told that the best days to view things will be the 29th (when most boats are coming in to the bay) and the 1st (when the fleet will be heading to Sydney).

If you have further queries give the Rangers a call on (02) 4448 3411.

Happy Climbing,
Robert Dun

hotgemini

16-Sep-2013
7:53:28 AM

Thank you very much for the update Robert.

:)

Climb Point Perp

16-Sep-2013
3:44:52 PM

I received an email from Defence today so here is the official word regards the closure.

I know someone will check so I saved you the effort and looked up by law 4 and pasted it at the bottom for reference.

From the email:-
From 29 September until 4 October, Navy will host a number of ships into Jervis Bay prior to the International Fleet Review commemorating the centenary of the RAN’s first fleet entering Sydney Harbour.

During this period access beyond Honeymoon Bay turn off will be restricted. To access the Lighthouse Area visitors will be required to park along OP Road and a shuttle bus will ferry visitors from OP road to the Lighthouse during the hours of 0800 until 1700. From 1700 until 0800 Lighthouse Rd will be closed to visitors from Honeymoon Bay turn off.

The following restrictions will apply during this period:

Rock climbing, abseiling and rock fishing will prohibited under By-Law 4 of the Defence (Public Areas) By-Laws 1987.

The by-law:-
DEFENCE (PUBLIC AREAS) BY-LAWS 1987 - REG 4
Erecting or placing of signs

A commanding officer may, by instrument in writing, approve the erecting or placing of signs at or near the entrances to a public area, a part of a public area, or a part of a naval, military or air force establishment, as the case requires, for the purpose of:

(a)
conveying directions to be followed by, warnings for the guidance of, or requirements to be observed by, persons using a public area;

(b)
designating part of a public area as a parking area; or

(c)
designating part of a public area, other than a public area that is or forms part of an island, as a camping area.


nmonteith

16-Sep-2013
4:29:20 PM

Sounds like a good time to check out the Town Cliffs - a strangely forgotten area of Point Perp.

Wendy

16-Sep-2013
6:20:27 PM

I agree it's worth just sucking it up for 1 weekend, but that by law doesn't authorise closing the place - it's just talking about what signs they need to put up after they have decided to close it!

ropedonkey

17-Sep-2013
10:54:50 PM

Pretty much with Wendy on this one...
I wonder if i can put a sign up at the postman's tavern at Nowra saying," No naval personnel to get drunk and act like wally between 1700 and 0300 hours


climbau

18-Sep-2013
9:05:47 AM

Gotta disagree with you RopeDonkey and Wendy. I read the Bylaw as the commanding officer can give directives through the erection of signage. i.e "I direct you to not enter this land for the purpose of........" OR " You may only enter the designated zone for the purpose of......." OR "The area beyond this sign is restricted to person who agree to follow the directions of personnel.....". Either way, I agree that it is not a great sacrifice to have to make, after all it is only one weekend. :)


sbm

18-Sep-2013
10:07:22 AM

I don't think I'd really enjoy climbing there with grandstands full of spectators and a marching band anyway.


Duang Daunk

18-Sep-2013
10:16:21 AM

On 18/09/2013 sbm wrote:
>I don't think I'd really enjoy climbing there with grandstands full of
>spectators and a marching band anyway.

But what about if they had prize money, media coverage, and promoted it as an international event, would that sway you then?


sbm

18-Sep-2013
2:09:13 PM

On 18/09/2013 Duang Daunk wrote:
>On 18/09/2013 sbm wrote:
>>I don't think I'd really enjoy climbing there with grandstands full of
>>spectators and a marching band anyway.
>
>But what about if they had prize money, media coverage, and promoted it
>as an international event, would that sway you then?

Maybe, if I also get a serious yet inspiring film made about my experience by Chuck Fryberger, a hot European climber girlfriend, and an editorial in Rock & Ice to spray about grading.

ropedonkey

19-Sep-2013
11:14:56 AM

Back to my earlier reply...
My thoughts were from reading the by-law!!!
The officer can erect a sign on or at the entrance to any PUBLIC LAND and have you do as your told...
so this maybe far fetched but lets say he arrives at your cricket ground, bangs in a sign and says to bowl underarm and run around in the nude, according to the by-law we as sheep have to appease him.
And yes its just for a few days but they also close it Monday to Friday every week and also when the road is muddy or its too windy. Not to mention painting the light house and when a small fire burnt the undergrowth...
Actually now that i think about it.... it's hardly ever open...


nmonteith

19-Sep-2013
11:16:58 AM

I think its better to think it's a privilege to climb there rather than a right.

ropedonkey

19-Sep-2013
11:40:34 AM

I get the whole privileged part and i feel that every time i climb at most places...
My point is the navy haven't been there forever...
Time is on my side at present, so maybe more research to come...

pecheur

19-Sep-2013
12:58:58 PM

On 19/09/2013 ropedonkey wrote:
>I get the whole privileged part and i feel that every time i climb at most
>places...
>My point is the navy haven't been there forever...
>Time is on my side at present, so maybe more research to come...

No one's been anywhere forever, but the Navy's been developing the Beecroft as a bombardment range since 1957, I couldn't be bothered looking when the land when was granted to Navy/Defence, probably sometime in the 1920s at a guess? Possibly before given Cresswell was commissioned in 1915. I'd be quite will to bet that the Navy was there before anything recognisable at modern climbing was.

ropedonkey

19-Sep-2013
1:42:04 PM

True.... but i don't see bombing as developing the area, as if that is the case, Syria is pretty well in the middle of a building boom at present..
Sure... they are there now but is it right?
we used to whale, treat the indigenous people poorly and pollute the air (hang on we still pollute the air...Thanks Tony)...
When the Olympics hit Sydney they wanted to move the ammunition etc away. (quick stash it under this nondescript town).
Research Murray's Beach on the Southern side of Jervis Bay... they started to pour the concrete and test drilled holes for a Nuclear reactor but protests etc stopped that
You are right to say the navy was there before we climbed. It was also there before i surfed Target beach etc but it wasn't there before my grandfather cut tracks to the best fishing spots
But no your right lets bomb the place...because maybe its not your backyard..


Climboholic

20-Sep-2013
5:17:08 PM

On 19/09/2013 ropedonkey wrote:
>Back to my earlier reply...
>My thoughts were from reading the by-law!!!
>The officer can erect a sign on or at the entrance to any PUBLIC LAND
>and have you do as your told...

Stop being an arse ropedonkey!

It says PUBLIC AREA not PUBLIC LAND! It is an area of DEFENCE LAND which they allow public access. They could lock the gate if they wanted and your attitude isn't going to help portray climbers as a responsible user group.

Pecheur

23-Sep-2013
6:00:10 PM

Ironically it's closed for the early part of this week for road works...

ropedonkey

24-Sep-2013
1:49:48 PM

See guys....
Whatever happened to the fight in us...?
The small increments that this place is closed is ever increasing, i have had the whole range closed because its to windy or the road is to wet...
And we just suck it up...
Yep it is the government etc etc
As much as i don't like our federal member she is the only one doing something about keeping this place open...
It would ALL be closed if they didn't work out a way to keep the range open to the public..
Apparently it was gazetted to the commonwealth by NSW on the option it was to remain open to the public at all times UNLESS it was being used as a weapons range...
Painting a lighthouse and wet roads don't really mean that...
This is not a rant from the climbing side of me its just a fair question for a fair go to everyone..
Climbing would be less than 1% of the people that use this place..
Cheers Guys

martym

24-Sep-2013
2:37:39 PM

On 24/09/2013 ropedonkey wrote:
>See guys....
>Whatever happened to the fight in us...?
>The small increments that this place is closed is ever increasing, i have
>had the whole range closed because its to windy or the road is to wet...
>And we just suck it up...
>Yep it is the government etc etc

It's not the government, it's the military.*
Those guys don't have a sense of humour...

*don't pull the government department line - the local member will have 0 influence on what the rangers decide.

Damien Gildea

24-Sep-2013
6:28:42 PM

On 24/09/2013 ropedonkey wrote:
>See guys....
>Whatever happened to the fight in us...?
>
>It would ALL be closed if they didn't work out a way to keep the range
>open to the public..

FWIW, I agree with you. Access to our coastline is not a 'privilege' but a right. It's not something to grovel back from some bureaucrat.

I understand the need to work with other users and managers etc (and I appreciate in the case of Point Perp the Navy have a need and long-standing setup re: practice) but too often the starting point of such negotiations is out of whack and we just sit back and take it.

The 'government' should not dictate terms. WE are the government.

There are 21 messages in this topic.