Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 2227
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Wednesday, January 27, 13, 2024 2016 Wednesday, November
IMPRESSIVE: World junior scooter champion Taj Shambrook, 16, visited Horsham on Sunday, competing in the Shred Heads Skatepark Comp. The all-ages event featured scoot, BMX and skate competitions. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Consultation plea H
BY LAUREN HENRY
orsham Rural City Council will lobby the State Government for a three-month extension of community consultation for the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape draft management plan.
At Monday night’s council meeting, the newly sworn-in council moved a motion to request meetings with relevant ministers and about impending access changes at Mount ArapilesTooan State Park. The council will invite Barengi Gadjin Land Council to meet to discuss the importance of the area to traditional owners, and the future preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. The council will advocate for a reference group be established represent-
ing a diverse range of users that have strong associations with Mount Arapiles, and that the group work together to oversee the implementation of the amended management plan. Council also plans to request a State Government-funded economic and social impact assessment of Mount Arapiles, including the number of visitors and professional people who chose to move to the Horsham municipality for rock climbing. The management plan, made public on Melbourne Cup eve, seeks to protect areas of cultural significance to the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Indigenous groups, represented by Barengi Gadjin Land Council. The park is home to one of Aus-
tralia’s largest stone quarry complexes with rock art and scar trees dating back 3000 years. But there has been backlash about the amount and types of rock climbing routes planned to be banned, with many in the Natimuk community opposing the plan, believing the changes will cull visitor numbers to the area, resulting in economic losses to the town’s businesses. The Weekly Advertiser understands that at least two Natimuk-based businesses have announced plans to close – Open Spaces, a 30-year-old business that distributes climbing guide books, posted a statement on its Facebook page saying it would cease trading on December 20. “Most of you will be familiar with
the increasing access difficulties faced by Victorian recreational users over the past five years,” the statement read. “These closures and restrictions within many of our best public parks and reserves have adversely affected large numbers of regional businesses, including ours. “For our wonderful town of Natimuk – home to hundreds of climbers and their families – this is a devastating outcome. “Natimuk, once a showcase regional success story, has now been condemned to a slow but inevitable death.” Cr Brian Klowss, representing the Wyn Wyn ward that includes Natimuk, said if approved, the plan would cause
devastation to Natimuk and pain to the wider Wimmera. “I’ve had long talks with the Natimuk local businesses, most are anticipating a 50 per cent downturn as a minimum,” he said. “Others such as the climbing shop really don’t know what their future is now. “The flow-on effects to Horsham and the greater Wimmera communities are massive and potentially unrepairable.” Cr Klowss listed the various professionals, including many difficultto-attract skilled workers, who were living in Natimuk due to their love of rock climbing. • Continued page 3.
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