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Ban proposal signals end to climbing at Uluru
A consultation period will close on September 4.
Yuko Narushima
July 9, 2009
DEFYING death, the elements and the wishes of indigenous people, tourists climb Australia's most famous rock at a rate of more than 250 people a day.
But the sun may soon set on climbing season at Uluru, with a blanket ban signalled within the next 10 years.
Opening a draft management plan to debate yesterday, National Parks director Peter Cochrane said scaling the World Heritage-listed site was culturally insensitive.
"Traditional owners ask that visitors don't climb," he said. "It's steep, it's strenuous and it's very high."
Under Aboriginal law, the Anangu people of the Western Desert are responsible for protecting Uluru and its visitors. The climb is also spiritually significant, as it follows the traditional route taken by Mala, or hare-wallaby men.
"We want our visitors to learn about our place and listen to us," Anangu man Tony Tjamiwa said in the proposal.
Yesterday, resistance to the ban was loudest from the Federal Opposition.
"Big Brother is coming to Uluru to slam the gate closed on an Australian tourism icon," environment spokesman Greg Hunt said.
But the popularity of the red sandstone ascent has been dropping for some time. Only a third of visitors now aim to reach the 340-metre peak, down from three-quarters in 1990.
The switch of slogan on tourist T-shirts explains this, Mr Cochrane said. The brag is no longer "I climbed Ayers Rock" but "I walked around Uluru", he said.
Also, more people understood the cultural insult, were heeding "do not climb" signs and were deterred by details of more than 30 deaths explained at the base of the rock.
And the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has stopped promoting the sense of achievement to be gained in completing the climb.
The Australia travel guide by Lonely Planet compared the climb "to, say, clambering over the altar in Notre Dame Cathedral or striding through a mosque during prayer".
While current bans in extreme heat, windy weather and after dark were reducing health risks, threats to the environment persisted.
Tourists defecating on the rock, for example, were spoiling the natural environment, aside from the disregard shown to traditional owners.
"There are no toilets on top. Whatever they leave there washes down into the waterholes around the rock," Mr Cochrane said.
Meanwhile, alternative Uluru activities, such as the base walk and watching the sun set, are growing in popularity.
A consultation period will close on September 4.
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/ ... -20090708-ddev.html |
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发表于 9-7-2009 00:17:51
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