A new agreement between tour groups operating at Summerday Valley in the national park and Parks Victoria has been struck to help tour operators and their customers better recognise, protect and respect the area’s cultural Aboriginal heritage.
Parks Victoria said that last year, with the support of Traditional Owners, Licensed Tour Operators offering rock climbing and abseiling were provided conditional access to operate in Summerday Valley, an area protected because of its natural and cultural values.
“This access has now been extended with the addition of a voluntary Code of Conduct that is designed to help tour operators and their customers better recognise, protect and respect the area’s cultural Aboriginal heritage,” Parks Victoria said.
“Operators are now also required to hold a Cultural Heritage Permit which sets out the requirements for them to responsibly operate in this special area,” it said.
“Known as ‘Gariwerd’ to Traditional Owners, the Grampians region is home to the largest number of known significant and ancient Aboriginal rock art sites in southern Australia, some dating back more than 20,000 years.”
Parks Victoria said there were around 200 rock art sites currently recorded in the Grampians National Park, many of which were situated under rock overhangs.
“As within most parks and reserves in Victoria, the full extent of Aboriginal cultural places in the Grampians National Park is still being understood,” it said.
It said tour operators in Summerday Valley were also required to comply with other licence conditions including defined operating locations; compulsory completion of an Aboriginal cultural heritage induction program; education for operators and their tour groups; identification for tour guides and their customers; use of a booking system to manage and monitor access; and reporting of visitor data to help with planning and review.
