A sign appeared immediately before Christmas at the base of the forestry road up Alum mountain formally acknowledging the area as an Aboriginal Heritage area (although this was actually gazetted a couple of years ago) and specifically banning rock climbing in the state forest. This is everything south of the lookout. The forest road also has a locked gate and 4wd and trail biking are also prohibited. Walking is permitted. The land is owned and managed by Forestry and it appears to be their decision. Forestry appear to have been sending mixed messages to climbers in the Newcastle area over the past year, but it sounds as if this decision has caught local climbers unaware. I have been overseas most of the year and am disappointed to find our local world class area off limits as I return....
The northern sectors of the mountain ie goat cave and terrace, the beehive, fiegs overhang, flagpole wall are on private property (possibly owned by the bank after a failed attempt at a resort). The northwest sector is also privately owned and is off limits as that landholder has refused climbers access.
It's probably best to stay away at present, and I wouldn't go posting conjecture and comments on here in a public forum, but may start something in the members area once Chockstone is working more efficiently again and as people get back from their Xmas break and we get some further information.