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The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has now published the Agenda for the Council Meeting to be held on 12 December 2018.

At the Council Meeting, the Shire proposes to:

1. Ban all access to Wallcliffe not just climbing.
2. Chop off all climbing bolts at Wallcliffe.

If you want to save Wallcliffe, then follow the steps provided below under the heading “How to Save Wallcliffe“.  It’s simple.

If you are not sure what has been happening to date, then search our previous posts about Wallcliffe in the search bar.

We have updated recent correspondences and documents in the Public Document Folder.  A good summary of the situation is contained in the CAWA Submissions re Local Law Determination in Relation to Wallcliffe Cliffs and River.

How to Save Wallcliffe

1. Share this post with as many people as you can by social media. That’s simple.
2. If you are an elector and resident of the Shire, then download and complete a Petition to Save Wallcliffe.   The petition is in Word Format so you can amend it. If you have to amend the petition, please use respectful language. If you started the petition, then you must insert your full name, address and e-mail in the section marked “********”.  Print a whole bunch of the petitions.  Hit the streets, knock on doors, hold events and get as many other electors and residents of the shire to sign your petition.  The petitioners must complete their details and indicate that they “Agree”. Very important, if you get more than 3 petitioners, then they must sign a separate form, as the signatures must be on the same form with all the requests numbered 1 to 10. The more supporters that you can get to sign your petition the better chance you have of success. Then e-mail all your petitions to the President and Councillors via the e-mails addresses shown on the petition. Write something in the cover e-mail like “Dear Councillors, I refer to the agenda for the Ordinary Council Meeting on 12 December 2018 and I attach my petition which has [insert] number of supporters.” You must get these petitions in urgently. As time is running out. Then try to telephone Your Councillors and get their support. If you have any questions about your petition, then e-mail dirkk@climberswa.asn.au.
3. If you are an elector and resident of the Shire, then attend the Ordinary Council Meeting on 12 December 2018.
4. If you are not an elector or resident of the Shire, then contact your family and friends who are electors or residents and get on to them to create download and complete a Petition to Save Wallcliffe. Get them to follow the instructions above.
5. If you are not an elector or resident of the Shire, then down load and complete both a Petition to Save Wallcliffe to the Legislative Council and a Petition to Save Wallcliffe to the Legislative Assembly. The petitions are Word Format so you can amend them. If you have to amend the petitions, please use respectful language. If you started the petition, then must insert your full name, address and e-mail in the section indicated.  Print a whole bunch of the petitions.  Get as many other people to sign your petition. Only original signatures are permitted. The petitioners must complete their details. Very important, if you get too many petitioners that fit on the form, then they must sign a separate form, as the signatures must be on the same form as the request. The more supporters that you can get to sign your petition the better chance you have of success. Then you must contact your local member and telephone them to arrange to submit your petition. Find your local member by using the “find your member” on the WA Parliament Website. E-mail a copy of your petitions to the Councillors of the Shire with a courteous e-mail. You must get these petitions in urgently. As time is running out. If you have any questions about your petition, then e-mail dirkk@climberswa.asn.au.

If you have any other ideas and thoughts, then e-mail us them to us at cawa@climbers.wa.asn.au.

Climb safe!

Dirk Klicker

CAWA Vice President

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River (“the Shire“) proposes to:

1. Ban all access to Wallcliffe not just climbing.
2. Chop off all climbing bolts at Wallcliffe.

The Council Meeting to vote is to be held on 12 December 2018. There is no time to lose!

The most relevant documents are:

1. The Ordinary Council Minutes of 28 March 2018 (especially pages 63 to 74).
2. The Public Notice published on 30 May 2018.
3. The draft determination.
4. The Local Government Property Local Law 2013 (see clause 2.2 of Schedule 2).

The above documents can be accessed at the following link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EX6dndNNlch_AHbMG551boD9gKc4Kd8D?usp=sharing

Since 2012 Wallcliffe has been a registered heritage site under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.  CAWA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land (The Noongar-boodja people) and would like to pay respects to the Elders thereof past and present. CAWA is committed to the protection and conservation of Wallcliffe for future generations. CAWA wants to ensure that Wallcliffe is preserved and undamaged.

If you weren’t aware, climbing at Wallcliffe has already been banned by the Shire. This happened in 2013 and went under the radar.

We understand that the period of making written submissions to the Shire has expired.

As climbers, we have an obligation to protect Wallcliffe for future generations.

You will see in the Council Minutes that as follows:

1. The cliff has not been shown to structurally unsound. This is notwithstanding climbing of more than 30 years.
2. The activities complained of are not climbing related such as damage to the foreshore, loud noise, fires, vandalism and graffiti. CAWA does not condone this behavior and fully support steps by the Shire to curtail this behavior. CAWA would seek to work with the Shire and other stakeholders to eradicate this sort of thing.
3. Climbing itself has not been proven by any study to damage or harm the cliff. There is no study of the impact of climbing on the cliff. CAWA supports the assessment of the impact of climbing on the area so that an accurate assessment of the impact of climbing may be made.
4. Damage to the foreshore area by commercial enterprises that are permit holders versus infrequent use by climbers has not been assessed. CAWA supports the collection of further data so that an accurate assessment can be made.
5. Other options do not appear to have been substantially explored.  CAWA submits that there are a range of other options available as opposed to a blanket ban on access and climbing.
6. Associations such as CAWA are not included as permissible permit holders versus commercial enterprises.  CAWA supports the Shire and all stakeholders working together to ensure that the interests of all parties are promoted and protected not to the exclusion of any person or body whose genuine primary goal is above all the protection and promotion of Wallcliffe.
7. That CAWA and climbers have an interest in protecting Wallcliffe has not been acknowledged.

This is a big and complex undertaking beyond the skills and experience of any of the current committee members.

So CAWA needs you. We hope to prevent chopping of the bolts at Wallcliffe and we want climbing re-instated as an authorized activity at Wallcliffe.

We are looking for experienced and motivated legal eagles and activists to represent CAWA and the WA climbing community, in dealing with this issue.

Contact CAWA urgently, preferably straightaway and no later than close of business on Thursday, 29 November 2018, as we need to action this.

Save Climbing at Wallcliffe!

Gareth Wood

CAWA President

garethw@climberswa.asn.au

cawa@climberswa.asn.au

dirkk@climberswa.asn.au