Council
4 October, 2025
Mt Alexandra closure angers rock climbers
Wingecarribee Shire Council is under fire for closing access to a popular rock-climbing spot at Mt Alexandra
Wingecarribee Shire Council is under fire for closing access to a popular rock-climbing spot at Mt Alexandra.
Recreational climbers have slammed the closure, which they say was made “without warning, consultation or transparency”.
The ban applies to a popular sport crag containing 130 routes and which has been used by climbers for more than 40 years.
A heavy gate has been installed along the path to the crag and signs are in place warning visitors of potential fines for rock climbing, abseiling or bouldering.
Climbers have accused council of choosing “secrecy instead of consultation”, effectively locking them out of one of Sydney’s busiest climbing areas and have written to mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick demanding an explanation.
Climbing groups, including the Australian Climbing Association NSW (ACANSW), believe the closure is linked to a 2009 report identifying Aboriginal cultural heritage in the area.
They acknowledge that Aboriginal artwork has been impacted by climbers but said council failed to manage the situation in 2009 and have done nothing about it over the past 16 years.
They said they only became aware of the artworks in June.
A statement on the group’s website said a letter had been sent to Aboriginal representatives “sincerely apologising on behalf of climbers and asking for a meeting to discuss mitigation options”.
“We reiterate that our climbing organisations acknowledge and respect Aboriginal cultural heritage and its ongoing importance to Aboriginal culture and all Australians. However there are opportunities to coexist and Mt Alexandra provides a perfect example of how this could occur.”
The ACANSW has accused council of repeatedly failing to raise any concerns about climbing at Mt Alexandra. However they say climbers have behaved “with integrity, responsibly and rapidly” by reaching out to Aboriginal representatives and putting a stop to any climbs in the vicinity of the artworks.
ACANSW and the Canberra Climbers Association have written to council and other interested parties with a request to rescind the closure, to meet and to “move to a co-designed plan of management through collaboration and transparency”.
The closure of Mt Alexandra is being compared to other ‘blanket bans’ in Victoria at the Grampians and Mount Arapiles with climbing website Vertical Life reporting at those locations climbers were shut out without dialogue, cultural heritage was “weaponised as a blunt tool” rather than managed through co-operation and sweeping bans were imposed where solutions already existed.
The Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve is described on council’s website as the Wingecarribee Shire’s ‘premier bushland reserve’. It is 1898 hectares and extends across the localities of Cole Vale, Mittagong, Woodlands, Willow Vale and Welby.
Most of the reserve contains priority habitat for koalas and Greater Gliders. It contains two Threatened Ecological Communities and is home to a number of threatened plants.
Council says certain areas in the reserve have been closed to climbing due to “irreversible damage occurring to Aboriginal heritage”.
Council has legislative obligations under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) to protect and conserve Aboriginal places and artefacts. It says it cannot disclose locations or the type of Aboriginal heritage in the area but asks that people respect closure signs.
Council’s signage at the locked gate states there are alternative rock-climbing sites that can be accessed from the fire trail that runs from Lake Alexandra. More information is available by contacting council.
Climbing at the crag is now an offence under Section 632 of the Local Government Act with fines of up to $1100 (10 penalty units).
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