CLIMBING ULURU LIKELY TO BE BANNED

Climbing Uluru may be banned

Climbing Uluru may be banned

Uluru says hooroo to rock climb

July 9th, 2009

THE Uluru climb is almost certain to be closed, probably in about two years.

Parks Australia has called for public comment on a plan to ban tourists clambering up the 348m rock.

The plan runs for 10 years.

But Parks Australia head Peter Cochrane today dropped strong hints that Uluru would be closed to climbers sooner rather than later.

The comment period closes in early September.

A final document will then be sent to the Federal Government, which controls the national park.

Mr Cochrane said the tourism industry would then be given at least 12 months to adjust their marketing campaigns.

That means The Rock could be closed by October 1 in 2011, the start of the hot season in Central Australia.

Pictures: Uluru & Central Australia

Mr Cochrane said there were three main reasons for banning climbers:

SAFETY - 35 people died in the 25 years to the year 2000, but none have died since climbing restrictions were introduced;

ENVIRONMENTAL damage - the sandstone rock suffers erosion and human waste is washed down into waterholes by rain; and

CULTURE - traditional owners don't like people climbing over something they consider sacred.

Uluru was open all day for only 40 days last year. Tour guides have long accused rangers of imposing a de facto ban on climbing by closing The Rock so often.

But Mr Cochrane said Uluru was only shut for safety reasons - when it was too wet, windy or hot.

Tourism Central Australia head Peter Grigg said tour operators were divided over whether the climb should be scrapped.

He said some companies had not advertised the climb for years.

But Emu Run Tours owner Denise Horner said many tourists would not to go to Uluru if they weren't allowed to climb.

The Territory Government said it opposed banning climbing.

For a copy of the plan go to www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications/uluru/draft-plan.html