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Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network

Submission to

Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan Amendment

The Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network (GWRN) makes the following submission to the Draft Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan Amendment.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network acknowledges the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples as the Traditional Owners of Dyurrite, and support their efforts towards the full exercise of their self-determination. We are grateful to them for sharing their knowledge of the rediscoveries and the ongoing meaning and significance of the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape. We also acknowledge the continuing and ongoing impacts of colonisation on Wotjobaluk peoples. Through their efforts we deepen our connection to their land and develop more understanding of our shared history. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and we hope that their efforts will help us come together with more knowledge and connection to build strong communities in the Gariwerd Wimmera region.

We look forward to a time when the community can respectfully walk with the Wotjobaluk peoples to understand and learn of the ongoing significance of this landscape.

Introduction

GWRN supports the Draft Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan Amendment based on our understanding that the draft was prepared in collaboration with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC), representing the Wotjobaluk Nations Peoples.

In late 2020, GWRN was invited by Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BGLC), as the Traditional Owners of Dyurrite, to provide factual information about rock climbing and bouldering activities at Dyurrite with the purpose of enabling BGLC to make more informed decisions about the future management of their Cultural Heritage at Dyurrite. GWRN was invited to participate in the assessments at Dyurrite as a trusted, reconciliation-focused resource, in recognition that our members’ knowledge and experience allows us to bring information on climbing practices to the conversation. This information – the Recreation Use Assessment – was provided to BGLC in good faith and with no expectation – see info below on the development of this process.We are pleased to see that this work has been used in the preparation of the latest draft, and that mitigation options put forward by GWRN in the Recreational Use Assessment have been incorporated into this new draft.

GWRN has long held the position that a detailed assessment of the intersection between cultural heritage and recreational use of the landscape is an important step, which allows recreational users to understand how their recreational activities impact cultural heritage. We are heartened that rock climbing is able to occur at Dyurrite in a way that respects and protects the cultural values of the Wotjobaluk Nations as has been identified by the Wotjobaluk peoples through BGLC.

Parks Victoria’s Process

The process enacted by Parks Victoria (PV) over the last 6 years has been extremely poor. In the release of the previous draft amendment in 2024, PV attempted to claim that GWRN was supportive of the 2024 draft, and was somehow involved in its preparation. This claim was false. This was brought to the attention of PV in our submission on the initial draft amendment, to the Minister for the Environment, and in subsequent meetings with the interim CEO in December 2024 and with the new CEO on 19 August 2025. In making this false claim, PV handed the initiative to the online blogs to spread the lie that GWRN “traded off” access to rock climbs. GWRN and its individual members have been subjected to vilification in these blogs, which continues to this day. PV later attempted to walk back this claim, but far too late for GWRN to avoid the reputational damage that PV’s actions delivered. PV’s continued appeasement of the online blogs serves only to provide oxygen to their hate filled pejorative writing. This same writing continues and amplifies the harm that Aboriginal people face daily. Barely a day goes by without these blogs causing harm to Aboriginal people. These blogs do not represent the local community, or rock climbers in general. They only represent their own meagre membership. PV’s actions in this regard do nothing more than facilitate harm to Aboriginal people. Words cause harm. This needs to stop.

Climbing Victoria is the peak body for rock climbing in Victoria, and it is pleasing to note that they have been involved in the preparation of this draft document. It is worthwhile noting that Climbing Victoria has reached out to GWRN to thank us for the work we put into the Recreational Use Assessment for Dyurrite, and to convey the message that our work was extremely helpful during the Dyurrite Sub Working Group meetings. It is disappointing that PV first claimed GWRN’s participation and endorsement of the 2024 draft when we were not involved at all and our Recreational Use Assessment was clearly not used. Now PV remains silent regarding the use of this work in the preparation of the 2026 draft. It is disappointing that the Recreational Use Assessment was not acknowledged in this draft amendment where it was clearly used as an input to the plan, and should be acknowledged as such.When GWRN met with PV in August 2025 the e PV asked if there is anything that PV can do to assist in repairing the reputational damage that PV caused – now is the time for PV to recognise and acknowledge the use of our work. GWRN’s work has been all about respect, building relationships, and working collaboratively towards the protection and celebration of cultural heritage. GWRN considers that our approach is a model that can be used in other areas. Parks Victoria would do well to acknowledge this.

GWRN Approach to Recreational Use Assessment

The Recreational Use Assessment process was first created and developed in collaboration with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC), Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC), BGLC, and GWRN, and applied to the northern end of Gunigalg. Relationships and trust were a key to enable this process to occur at the time and built the foundation for the assessments later done with BGLC at Dyurrite. The recreational use assessment prepared by GWRN was then presented to GMTOAC, EMAC, and BGLC, who were in agreement with the proposed mitigation options. These mitigation options were then referred onto PV for implementation. Climbing Victoria was then involved in the carrying out of works to implement the recommendations. The northern end of Gunigalg has since been open to rock climbing as a result of this process. It should be noted that any statement to the effect that GWRN ‘traded off half of” the cliff is a deliberate lie, put about to discredit a process that is based in respect, trust, valuing cultural heritage, and collaborative effort.

GWRN is firmly of the opinion that taking the time to build relationships leads to respect and trust. From this, collaborative effort can lead to management outcomes that protect and celebrate cultural heritage whilst also allowing recreational activities to occur in ways that do not cause harm. Noting that “harm” comes in many forms, and should not be confused with “damage”. As stated above, words cause harm, actions cause harm. Understanding, respect, knowledge, and behavioural change can reduce harm.

GWRN’s position is that the recreational use assessment process adopted in Gunigalg and Dyurrite represents a repeatable model that can be used elsewhere in the preparation of management plans.