Uluru: to climb or not to climb?
A draft management plan for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park that recommends a ban on climbing Uluru for cultural and environmental reasons was announced in early July.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1987 and in 1994 it became the second property in the world to be listed by UNESCO as a cultural landscape. It was successfully nominated as a World Heritage property under this category because Uluru and Kata Tjuta form part of the traditional belief system of one of the oldest human societies in the world.
Uluru is visited by around 350,000 people a year and about half are from overseas. A third of visitors climb the rock after walking past signs posted by the traditional owners (the Anangu Aboriginal people) asking visitors respect their traditional belief system and not to climb.
The draft management plan proposes the ban on climbing the rock for environmental, cultural and safety reasons. More than 35 deaths have been recorded on the 346 metre climb and every year park rangers are called out to rescue visitors suffering from broken bones, heat exhaustion and extreme dehydration.
The sheer numbers of visitors to Uluru have left their mark on the rock – the thousands of footsteps have worn a path to the top. And then there’s the toilet issue; there aren’t any up on top of the rock. Studies have found significant levels of bacteria and litter in water holes which are life sources for birds, reptiles, animals and frogs.
Tourism operators don’t seem to be opposed to the ban on climbing. Most don’t advertise the climb as it is often closed due to unsafe weather conditions (heat, rain, low cloud cover, wind). Last year the climb was only open for 40 full days.
Visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are encouraged to experience Uluru via a range of guided walks and interpretive attractions. You can walk around the base of the rock, participate in ranger guided activities and view Aboriginal rock art.
The draft management plan notes that recent surveys indicate that 98 per cent of people would not be put off visiting Uluru if they were not allowed to climb. Visitors who didn’t climb the rock mentioned the request not to climb and their desire to show respect for the Anangu people and their culture.
The launch of the draft management plan, however, sparked a media frenzy that provoked a mixed reaction. Online, public comment has been fuelled by political agendas, the land ownership debate and racism.
The plan could come into effect within 18 months, but must first go through a consultation process and be signed off by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
The draft plan is open to public comment until 4 September 2009.
Do you think that visitors should be banned from climbing Uluru?