Australian council bans Mt Alexandra climbing to protect Aboriginal heritage

A local council in New South Wales banned rock climbing at Mt Alexandra crag to guard Aboriginal heritage, prompting backlash from climbers who say they were not consulted before the decision. Wingecarribee Shire Council announced the ban and posted a sign near the park stating that rock climbing, abseiling and bouldering were prohibited beyond a certain point. The council said some areas of the reserve would remain open, while others were closed due to irreversible damage to Aboriginal heritage.

The council did not identify which sites would be preserved, a move ACA NSW — the umbrella body for climbers in New South Wales — said related to Aboriginal art discovered in a cave in 2009. The association noted climbers only learned of the art in June and have since engaged with local Aboriginal representatives to safeguard it from damage. The ban’s visibility comes as climbers learned of the restrictions after the fact, prompting questions about consultation and process.

In a statement, ACA NSW said climbers had acted with integrity and speed, adding that a community is built through collaboration rather than scapegoating. The group criticized the council for what it described as 16 years of inaction on heritage protection and said that sweeping closures risk undermining social cohesion. "We feel climbers have behaved with integrity, responsibly and rapidly," ACA NSW stated, and it called for a balanced approach: "A shared future, not a shut future, is something to which we aspire."

The dispute highlights a broader debate about how to balance public access with the protection of Indigenous heritage at popular outdoor sites. ACA NSW urged residents to register their opposition with the council and local representatives, arguing that the blanket ban could reshape the region’s outdoor recreation culture and potentially shift risk and pressure to other venues.

Mt Alexandra, located south of Sydney, hosts roughly 130 routes and has long been a draw for sport climbers in the area. The council’s decision underscores the tension between safeguarding heritage and maintaining access to beloved community spaces, a tension that officials say is likely to echo in other jurisdictions as sites face increased visitation and heightened sensitivity around Indigenous artefacts and art.