CAMPERS will be banned from some areas of the Grampians from 2024 under a 15-year Parks Victoria management plan, prepared in conjunction with a coalition of Aboriginal land corporations.

The Grampians attracts more than 1.3 million visitors every year and the plan has been met with some criticism regarding feasibility and has divided some locals.

The plan includes restricting camping and other activities, including rock climbing which will be designated to only 104 specified areas.

Pitching a tent will only be allowed in 47 designated areas under the plan, which also proposes renaming parks, reserves, mountain ranges and visitor sites with traditional owner names.

Use of recreational drones will be banned in the area and off-track hiking will be limited.

A free permit system will be introduced for rock climbers next year, including a requirement they undertake an online induction covering cultural and environmental values.

The change of site names includes renaming the Grampians National Park to Grampians Gariwerd National Park, the Black Range will become the Burrunj State Forrest and the Mount Difficult Range will be renamed the Gawa Range.

Swimming will also be banned in the Mackenzie Falls plunge pool, which is below one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. One significant change from the plan was removing the proposal to explore reintroducing dingoes to the landscape.

This has been replaced with a goal to raise awareness about their cultural significance.

The plan was availed to the public for comment for 10 weeks, which closed January 24, 2021.

“More than 2500 submissions were received, with a wide range of views, and all were reviewed and considered,” Parks Victoria said.

“We have sought to balance the many views and interests in the landscape.

“Our job has been to bring everyone together and find a solution that balances protecting cultural and natural heritage with recreational and tourism access and we hope that’s what we have delivered.

“The plan will underpin the management of the Gariwerd landscape for the next 15 years to ensure the parks and reserves are protected for current and future generations.”

Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation said of the plan, that “our knowledge and experience inform this plan, guiding the vision for the Greater Gariwerd landscape and how it is managed, and recognise the traditional owner stories, knowledge and practices connected with this symbolic place”.

“Gariwerd is a member of our family — like our grand-mother, our mother, our sister, our daughter,” the statement said.

“This is important to us. This is not just park management to our people. This is the return of a stolen family member. This is why (the plan) is so important to decolonise the management of land, water, fire, wildlife and the place names of our bio-cultural landscapes. Our reunion with Gariwerd reaffirms our obligations to look after our family member, our Country.

“We recognise the connections between people, communities and Country and want to work together to maintain and restore this special place.”