Canning Dam Quarry site visit

A date has been organised with the management authorities for Sunday 7 Nov (9am) as a day for a Canning Dam Quarry site visit, with a view at identifying the lines to be bolted. We may need to top rope some of the lines and possibly carry out some cleaning and will be there for several hours. 

Access and route development are both subject to the regulations (below) developed by DEC/WaterCorp/CAWA. Briefly, to gain access, you will need to:

• be a member of CAWA and prove it on the day by a membership card or receipt
• sign an indemnity form
• agree to abide by all other access regulations, eg. all bolts must be glued in ringbolts, all routes need to be approved following an application etc (see below).

Clearly, there is some effort involved, but the resulting climbing facility should be modern, of high standard, and able to be enjoyed by generations of climbers.

Ross Weiter
VicePresident, CAWA

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Access and New Route Development Regulations

CLIMBING ACCESS

Any climber accessing the quarry shall fully comply with the CAWA Code of Conduct, available from: https://www.climberswa.asn.au/CAWA/Ethics/

Additional requirements relating to this site are as follows:

1. Access is only allowed on the days published by the Climbers’ Association of WA (CAWA) on its web site. These dates will be, or have been, arranged in consultation with the quarry managers.
2. The combination lock code will be available from the CAWA management committee two to three days prior to each access period. Contact will be provided.
3. The climber shall be a current full financial member of CAWA. This is a requirement of the quarry managers and is partly due to public liability insurance requirements.
4. The climber shall have their CAWA membership card and present it to any other climber or to the ranger when asked to do so. The ranger residence is located at the top of the quarry, and is equipped with a viewing platform overlooking the quarry.
5. Vehicles can be parked on the inside of the quarry gates for security reasons. Any vehicles parked inside the quarry shall be located no more than 20 m from the entry gate.
6. The gate shall be kept locked at all times. Quarry users are responsible for ensuring the gate is re-locked after entering or leaving the quarry.
7. No music is allowed to be played inside the quarry.
8. No access is allowed to the top of the quarry for any reason other than emergency or new route development. No top roping off anchors other than ring bolts is permitted.
9. Hours of use are from 6am to 6pm.
10. No camping is allowed.
11. Capacity is limited to forty climbers at any one time.
12. Anyone undertaking climbing or climbing related activities such as bolting in the quarry, is required to sign an indemnity form. This one form will cover all of the dates specified in the agreement and any amended dates.

NEW ROUTE DEVELOPMENT

The New Route Developer (NRD) shall fully comply with the CAWA Code of Bolting and New Route Development, available from https://www.climberswa.asn.au/CAWA/Bolting/

Additional requirements relating to the site Canning Dam Quarry are as follows:

1. The NRD shall be a member of CAWA.
2. All routes shall have lower-off anchors provided, at a height not exceeding 30m above the ground.
3. Only commercial purpose-made rock climbing ring bolts shall be used for the lower-off anchors. This is to allow climbers to lower off from the route and minimize any need to access the highly eroded top of the quarry.
4. The NRD shall use glued-in bolts, using an appropriate Hilti or Sika or other similarly rated two-part epoxy glue only, e.g. Hilti HIT RE-500, Sika AnchorFix 1, Ramset Chemset Maxima Spin Capsules etc.
5. The NRD shall be experienced with bolt installation.
6. In case of two persons applying to bolt the same line, preference will go to the NRD with the least number of routes at the quarry approved to date.
7. The NRD shall submit an email proposal to access@climberswa.asn.au containing the following details:
   1. Name, home address, email and phone number of the NRD.
   2. A ‘bolting resume’ listing at least three routes which this person has bolted in the past, and their locations.
   3. Clear photograph of the section of the quarry containing the proposed route, with the proposed line drawn onto the photograph.
   4. Type, make and number of bolts proposed for runners and top anchors on each route.
   5. Glue to be used: brand name, type. If not a common bolting glue (i.e. glue other than Hilti, Sika or Ramset) then full glue specifications should be provided.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

The Application Evaluation Process:

1. The application will be processed by the Canning Dam Quarry New Routes Subcommittee (NRS). A time period of up to six weeks is the normal evaluation period expected. Applications should be emailed to CAWA. Applications may also be posted, but this may result in longer delays before approval.
2. The NRS and/or DEC and/or the Water Corp may set various conditions and requirements as they see fit.
3. NRS (see below) will advise the NRD of the outcome.
4. Any unsuccessful applicants will be advised of the reasons as to that outcome.

The New Routes Subcommittee (NRS):
This subcommittee consists of three members, nominated by the CAWA Committee, none of whom are to be active Canning Dam Quarry route developers. The subcommittee was set up that way so as to avoid any potential clash of interest, e.g. route developers assessing other route developers. The NRS will seek technical opinion from experts as and when required to assess individual applications.