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Launceston City Council Chops Cataract Gorge Bolts


EJ

18-Feb-2010
9:37:03 AM

Hi Folks,

This post on the TheSarvo is probably of interest to the wider climbing community!!

Link to forum post on TheSarvo

EJ


nmonteith

18-Feb-2010
9:50:23 AM

Reminds me of when we discovered a works crew with sledgehammers removing all the holds of the old Burnley glue-up in Melbourne.

If enough people kick up a stink, especially from interstate, then the council might get it into their thick heads that a LOT of people use these facilities. It's pretty much the only reason I've spent a week or so in Launceston.


cruze

18-Feb-2010
10:02:05 AM

The Gorge (especially shady side) is like Disneyland, so I can't imagine that the council wants to remove the bolts because they are aesthetically unappealling. Having climbed a few of the bolted routes on that side I would have some sympathy for the council if it was clearly a hazard to people walking along what can be a very busy track being struck by falling climbers. Again I find this hard to believe though, as climbing has occurred in the gorge for ages.

If I was to have a stab at it, and stick my neck out, I would say that the recent accident at Duck's Reach (?) reported both here but more widely in Tasmania where one of Chocky's younger members fell quite a distance and ended up in hospital might have spurred the knee-jerk reaction. Again I would find this about as reasonable as saying the basin is closed to swimmers because people could drown...


nmonteith

18-Feb-2010
10:07:56 AM

On 18/02/2010 cruze wrote:
>I would find this about as reasonable as saying the basin is closed to
>swimmers because people could drown...

The best swimming spot in the Grampians, McKenzie Falls, is now banned because of a drowning. It's no more dangerous than your local swimming pool.

tastrad

18-Feb-2010
10:25:12 AM

It wasn't me.
Gerry N


EJ

18-Feb-2010
10:39:22 AM

On 18/02/2010 cruze wrote:

>If I was to have a stab at it, and stick my neck out, I would say that
>the recent accident at Duck's Reach (?) reported both here but more widely
>in Tasmania where one of Chocky's younger members fell quite a distance
>and ended up in hospital might have spurred the knee-jerk reaction. Again
>I would find this about as reasonable as saying the basin is closed to
>swimmers because people could drown...

Hi Cruze,

I had similar thoughts, but if I remember correctly this was due to the failure of a nut placement. The Council should in fact be supporting the placement of bolts in this case! :p

On a more serious note, if there hasn't been a consultation process this raises serious concerns regarding other sport climbing venues that are in the public eye.

EJ


nmonteith

18-Feb-2010
10:43:10 AM

I reckon someone needs to fly the Launceston Council to Brisbane so they can see how the Kangaroo Point cliffs are run. That is a great example of the public interacting with climbers at the one venue without major problems.

Hugh

18-Feb-2010
10:56:40 AM

why don't we send the council a official chockstone petition..? Get all the members to revault


nmonteith

18-Feb-2010
10:58:06 AM

When someone finds out who to petition then lets do it!

Hugh

18-Feb-2010
11:00:12 AM

schweet! Well is anyone on that at thhe moment?

hotgemini

18-Feb-2010
11:03:49 AM

The Climbers Club of Tasmania?

(note: I've used a convention here from another forum I frequent whereby to avoid confusion from the limited nature of the written medium, italics are used to denote sarcasm)


IdratherbeclimbingM9

18-Feb-2010
11:04:02 AM

On 18/02/2010 EJ wrote:
>if I remember correctly this was due to the failure of a nut placement.

... or human error in the way the placement was made?

A petition may help change council attitude, but instead of Vics going it alone, it ought to be co-ordinated with the Taswegians.

hotgemini

18-Feb-2010
11:07:43 AM

Do we actually know that the council has an attitude problem? When I spoke to them an hour and a half ago about it they seemed friendly, receptive but unaware of the details but committed to investigating and getting back in contact with me when they had more information.

-Adam.

egosan

18-Feb-2010
11:08:12 AM

On 18/02/2010 Hugh wrote:
>schweet! Well is anyone on that at thhe moment?

The thread on thesarvo has been updated with some contact details for the local parks.


nmonteith

18-Feb-2010
11:22:37 AM

Launceston City Council 03 6323 3610


EJ

18-Feb-2010
11:23:24 AM

On 18/02/2010 hotgemini wrote:
>Do we actually know that the council has an attitude problem? When I spoke
>to them an hour and a half ago about it they seemed friendly, receptive
>but unaware of the details but committed to investigating and getting back
>in contact with me when they had more information.
>
>-Adam.

Good point, and thanks for getting in contact with the Council. It'll be interesting to see what they have to say. Its unclear from the report posted on TheSarvo which climbs have been affected.


masterofrup

18-Feb-2010
11:25:23 AM

If the action/decision is a local govt one then a petition (if presented within fairly specific protocols) can go to the council directly to be included (I think this is compulsory, at least in vic it is?) in the next council agenda. Would be most effective presented in person, shows commitment, and so that questions can be asked and answer. My personal observation is that local govt in tassie is very focused and keen on tourism, I would push this angle pretty hard particularly if you could get some international signatures. Also maybe clearly limiting the petition to people who have actually climbed there would be more meaningful than just a great whack of signatures.

egosan

18-Feb-2010
11:35:00 AM

On 18/02/2010 EJ wrote:
>On 18/02/2010 hotgemini wrote:
>>Do we actually know that the council has an attitude problem? When I
>spoke
>>to them an hour and a half ago about it they seemed friendly, receptive
>>but unaware of the details but committed to investigating and getting
>back
>>in contact with me when they had more information.
>>
>>-Adam.

Before anyone starts handing out touches and pitchforks, we should have the
full story. I don't think a lot of people contacting the council and asking for
further details will hurt; however, if people start threatening the bagging of dogs
it will not help. Be nice guys, at least until we know more.


EJ

18-Feb-2010
11:58:13 AM

From the post of Adam Geeves:

The climbs that were chopped yesterday:
Schizo
The New Move
Prohibitionist
No Dams
All lead bolts and anchors were chopped. They were cut with an angle grinder and there are still shiny, sharp 1cm stubs poking out of the rock.


IdratherbeclimbingM9

18-Feb-2010
12:02:36 PM

On 18/02/2010 EJ wrote:
>The climbs that were chopped yesterday:

Does this mean the guidebook needs a revision?
Will this create a precedent of revisionism?
Does the re-establishment of a climb create a new meaning for the term retrobolting?
... or are they now 'rivet assisted' aid climbs?
heh, heh, heh.

There are 42 messages in this topic.