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Crag & Route Beta

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Topic Date User

potential new bouldering area in NW sydney 21-May-2009 At 8:44:23 AM porkpie

Message

I agree to being careful not to destroy significant Aborignal areas. The problem is the definition of significant.

An area with lots of etchings and stencils is likely to be an indication of a area used and inhabited extensively, but a small midden or minimal other evidence should not make an area restricted for the future generations. Lets be honest every great bouldering spot in Sydney was likely discovered by the Aboriginals who just didn't have an eye for a good line (then the area would have been rediscovered by 14 year olds with Orcy bottles and a length of garden hose) before climbers finally found the area. I think everyone is willing to be culturaly sensitive but if the authrorities start to draw a longbow and pronounce every lump of sandstone in the Sydney basin as 'significant' people are not going to heed the warnings.

We need to be sure we get the balance right. Climbers (boulderers) need to have the interestes of the indigenous peoples, but lets not let the land managers use the issue to carpet ban climbing/bouldering in and around Sydney.