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Access Issues

Currently, almost 1 in 5 crags in the Sydney region are affected by access issues of one sort or another. The following excerpts are from the relevant NPWS and Council documents.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

National Parks and Wildlife Regulation, 2002   Clause 19, Section 21 Page 29: "(1) A person must not in a park: ... (d) engage in any activity or recreational pursuit that involves risking the safety of the person or the safety of other persons or damaging the environment.   (2) Without limiting the generality of subclause (1) (d), the activities and recreational pursuits to which that paragraph applies include abseiling, base jumping, bungy jumping, rock climbing, caving, parachuting, white water boating, paragliding, parasailing and hang gliding, but the paragraph will not apply if the activity is permitted in a plan of management for the park."   In other words, climbing without explicit permission from NPWS is not allowed in any National Park in NSW, unless the Park's Plan of Management makes an exception. Parks which currently meet this criteria include Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd, Wollemi and Ku-ring-gai Chase (Barrenjoey only) National Parks.

 

Sydney Harbour National Park Camp Cove The Gap North Head

Sydney Harbour National Park Plan of Management, October 1998   Section 4.2.2 Recreational Opportunities Page 37: "Camping and horseriding and rock climbing have never been permitted in Sydney Harbour National Park due to the small size of the park and the incompatibility of these activities with other park uses."   Policies Page 43: "Camping, horseriding, rockclimbing and abseiling will not be permitted in Sydney Harbour National Park."

 

Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Fosscrag Southwest Barrenjoey North Palm Beach Disorder Corners Lighthouse Track Customs House Rocks Kalkari Mt Colah Planet Clare The Temple of Doom Instant Crag Bobbin Head Road Five Star Fives and Three Star Threes Plus 1 and Green Snake Gully Jurassic Park Above the Boat Cottage Point Bouldering Challenger Cottage Point Lion Island

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Lion Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves Plan of Management, May 2002   Section 4.2.2.8 Other Recreational Activities Page 54: "Climbing and abseiling activities are becoming increasingly popular in and around the Sydney metropolitan area. The most used sites in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at present are on Barrenjoey Head and near Kalkari. Impacts from these activities include damage to rare plants, damage to rock faces by bolts and frequent use of the one site, the creation of a myriad of tracks to the top and bottom of cliffs, and disturbance of birds nesting on the cliffs. The National Parks and Wildlife (Land Management) Regulation 1995 prohibits persons from undertaking adventure activities in the park without the consent of the Service. The Regulation can be applied to exclude activities which are inappropriate in the park or at particular locations.   Policies and Actions Persons who wish to undertake any activities in the national park which may involve risking the safety of the person or the safety of other persons will require prior written approval from the Regional Manager under the National Parks and Wildlife (Land Management) Regulation. Rock climbing and abseiling will be permitted on Barrenjoey Head provided that: participants minimise environmental impacts to the cliffs and surrounding vegetation; prior approval has been given by the Regional Manager for groups of 10 or more, or for commercial rock climbing and abseiling activities; the safety of participants continues to be the responsibility of participants and their companions; and no new or replacement bolts are established without written approval from the Regional Manager (approval will be on the basis that the Service accepts no responsibility for the safety of the bolt). Rock climbing and abseiling activities involving ropes and mountaineering equipment will not be permitted elsewhere in the park without the prior written approval of the Regional Manager; Bolts which are placed in contravention of this plan, are no longer required or which may lead to unacceptable environmental or safety impacts will be removed."

 

Botany Bay National Park Cape Solander

Botany Bay National Park Plan of Management, May 2002   Section 4.3.3 Recreation Page 34: "Rock climbing and abseiling are very occasionally undertaken in the park. Rock anchoring is causing damage, the activity attracts sightseers to come dangerously close to cliff edges and the sandstone cliffs are particularly friable."   Management Strategies Page 35: "Horse riding, recreational off road driving and motor bike riding, hang-gliding, model aeroplane flying, climbing and abseiling will not be permitted in the park."

 

George's River National Park Alford's Point Bridge (North Side) Alford's Point Alford's Point (Moonah Rd) Picnic Point

George's River National Park Plan of Management, February 1994   While there is no specific mention of climbing in the current Plan of Management, climbers at Alford's Point have been told that climbing at the crag is not allowed and have been asked to leave the area.   In December 2000, the Sydney Rockclimbing Club received information from the NPWS that a plan of management for roped activities is currently being developed for George's River National Park. In the interim NPWS is accepting written applications from climbers who wish to climb in the Park, along with documentary proof of personal liability insurance cover.

 

Royal National Park Heathcote National Park Garawarra State Recreation Area The Wok (Royal NP) Bluebell (Heathcote NP) Abbott's Rd (Heathcote NP) Dickhead's Area (Royal NP) Smoker's Cave (Royal NP) Smoker's Lookout (Royal NP) Wattamolla (Royal NP)

Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area, Plan of Management, February 2000   Section 4.3.2 Recreation Opportunities Adventure Activities Page 59: "Occasionally adventure activities such as hang gliding, rock climbing and abseiling occur within the Royal National Park. Hang gliders regularly land within the park after taking off from Lawrence Hargraves Memorial Lookout near Stanwell Tops.   Adventure activities are generally considered to be appropriate within the three areas, depending on the site, but require the permission of the Director-General (or delegate) and are subject to any necessary fees and conditions.   Policies Adventure activities are permitted in Royal National Park with the consent of the Director-General (or delegate).   Written permission to conduct adventure activities must be obtained from the Service and will be subject to payment of fees and any conditions considered necessary."

 

Lane Cove National Park Lane Cove River Scattered Crags (B) West Roseville West Lindfield (B) The Block (B)

Lane Cove National Park Plan of Management, August 1998   While there is no specific mention of climbing in the Plan of Management, the following clause may be relevant to climbing within the park.   Section 4.3.2 Recreational Activities Page 37: "Activities which pose a danger to other users, create a significant noise or other nuisance, or have an impact on the natural or cultural heritage will not be permitted."

 

Popran National Park Joll's Bridge (Western end) Opposite Joll's Bridge

Popran National Park Plan of Management, August 2000   With respect to climbing, this plan contains much the same boilerplate as other recent plans.   Section 4.3.2 Recreational Activities Page 23: "Rock climbing and abseiling occasionally occur in the park. Frequent use of a rock face can erode the rock and have impact on rare plants which frequently grow on these rock faces. To minimise environmental damage, no rock bolts will be permitted in the park and commercial abseiling instruction will be allowed. People wishing to climb or abseil within Popran National Park will require permission of the District Manager in accordance with National Parks and Wildlife Land Management Regulations."

 

Garigal National Park Crumbly Elanora Heights

Garigal National Park Plan of Management, November 1998   While there is no specific mention of climbing in the Plan of Management, the following clause may be relevant to climbing within the park.   Section 4.3.2 Recreational Opportunities Page 39: "Recreation and other activities which pose a danger to other users, create a significant noise nuisance or other nuisance, or have a major impact on the natural and cultural heritage will not be permitted."

 

Balls Head Reserve Balls Head

Awaiting information from North Sydney City Council...