General News
13 April, 2025
'Shared Not Shut' vigil open to all
A vigil will be held on Easter Sunday, April 20, to launch the 'Shared Not Shut' program focusing on the co-existence of outdoor access and cultural heritage in relation to the reduction of climbing sites at Mr Arapiles/Dyurrite near Natimuk.
The Victorian Government announced a $1.7 million draft management plan in November which included the change to climbing sites.
While some residents of Natimuk, business owners and climbers claimed the increased bans would damage business, reduce tourism and discourage young professionals from settling in the region, others said they were looking to find a peaceful solution to co-exist with nature while protecting cultural heritage
The vigil will be held on private property to the right of the Lower Gums Campsite at Mt Arapiles, beginning at 4pm and lasting for about three hours.
The aim of the gathering is to get support for legilation to "enshrine responsible recreational access" into law.
The public is welcome to attend the event in a peaceful setting, to preserve access while preserving culture.
Climbers, bushwalkers, nature lovers, local community members and all who cherish the outdoors are invited.
Vigil organisers said they believed the opportunity to connect with nature through recreation was a fundamental right and access should be permitted by default and not restricted without transparent and genuine community engagement.
In a message to the public they said they supported a balanced, co-existent approach to outdoor recreation that respected and upheld Aboriginal living culture and preserved heritage through evidence-based and proportionate measures.
"We recognise that outdoor recreation fosters environmental stewardship, empowering users to actively care for and protect nature through conservation efforts, sustainable practices and long-term community engagement," a spokesperson said.
"A strong outdoor community is built on shared responsibility and advocacy, working together to ensure fair and sustainable access for all."
Traditional owners said they did not want to stop access to Dyurrite by climbers or visitors but wanted only to protect their artifacts and traditional artworks and the history of their elders and ancestors who were forcibly removed during settlement and made to live in missions.
During this time they lost much of their storytelling/history and families became fractured so protecting their history on Dyurrite was vital to them, they said.
People attending the vigil are asked to take along a head torch but not candles.