[Update 23 Jan 2024 – ACANSW has had two positive meetings with Blue Mountains City Council about the new Parking restrictions in the Blue Mountains. We have strongly advised the Council that the pricing structure of $12/hour or $$38/day is not viable for the rock climbing community. They have also received many messages from the climbing community (thanks!). There is no longer a need to send them any more feedback – they are fully across the issues and working to try and solve them. We are hoping that some pricing changes will be forthcoming – but this won’t happen immediately. Stay tuned for further updates.]

Blue Mountains City Council have installed expensive time limited parking meters at Sublime Point carpark. They also plan to do the same at Narrow Neck Lookout and Katoomba Falls carpark. This is on top of recently installed parking meters at Boars Head and the expansion of parking meters around Echo Point.

At $12/hour this is a huge cost imposed on visitors to the region and unworkable for the climbing community who use these areas for a whole day. Safety is also compromised with such time limits.

We need you to contact BMCC and the Councillors who made this decision to let them know that these parking meters are not compatible with the use of these areas as internationally significant rock climbing destinations. Plenty more info below…

What is at stake?

Sublime Point is one of the meccas of Blue Mountains climbing, 157 routes and with the unique appeal of wet weather resistance at moderate grades. This cliff has universal appeal and is one of the nearest Blue Mountains climbing areas to Sydney. Sweet Dreams (5 pitches) is considered the quintessential intro to multi pitching in NSW.

Narrow Neck is home to 448 routes across a wide range of styles – from the sport climbing meccas of Diamond Falls and the Farside, to traditional areas with great historical value such as Narrow Neck and Rhum Dhu. Boars Head is one of the most popular multipitch areas in the region. Paid parking will only be installed at the bitumen end of Narrow Neck. Parking inside the National Park for free is still an option for now (when they reopen the road).

Katoomba Falls has the very fun Wally’s World (quite possibly the best mini multi in the Mountains) plus all the usual Katoomba classics nearby such as Echo Crack, Ice and Dogface.

What are they charging?

Charges will be $12 / hour for peak periods – $10 / hour for shoulder periods. This is more expensive than Bondi Beach – and twice the price charged to park on the main street of Katoomba. This pricing structure is clearly aimed at extracting maximum revenue from tourists who just dash to the lookout, take a photo, and dash onwards to the next cafe – never to return to the Blue Mountains. This is financial burden that would destroy most climbers ability to climb there regularly. You can be certain that spending on local retail will decrease. A financial hit of this magnitude is a de facto time limit – your safety as a climber is under attack from this decision.

For the average visiting climber it will likely be cheaper to buy a ticket to Scenic World ($50) – which includes secure undercover parking, tour guides, dinosaur animatronics and three cable car rides. How crazy is that?

You won’t find any mention of a day pass on the signage or meters – but it is possible to purchase one (for $38!) if you download an app and sign up your personal details. This pass does not enable you to park longer than the signposted time limit (I.e. 12 hours at Boars Head). We believe a fairer and more equitable system needs to be implemented for long term users of these areas.

Time limits are a bad idea

Time limits of any type in recreational climbing reduce safety margins. Making a critical mistake because of a concern over a parking fine is a very real possibility. Climbing rushed and unroped is the inevitable outcome of a system that requires high payments per hour and a narrow time limit. The faster someone is required to climb, the more danger they will be in and the more danger they expose other climbers to in the area (rockfall onto climbers below from rushing is one such example). We could bang on for paragraphs about why speed climbing is a poor outcome – we hope you can spice up your own submission along similar lines.

There are no alternative nearby free on-street car parks at Sublime Point. In other areas, free parking on the nearby streets would likely upset local residents and cause roadside erosion and later on, work for Council.

Community consultation?

There has been no direct consultation with the recreational rock climbing community about this decision to meter Sublime Point. It was not mentioned in their Parking Strategic Plan 2023. We read it first on social media just like you. The only reference we have to any community consultation was one sent to general Bluies ratepayers last year – which did not contain a list of areas to be converted into pay use parking. It does not appear that the long established usage of this area by rock climbers has been factored into the decision to introduce time limited paid parking. ACANSW is disappointed that Council did not consult or at minimum inform the climbing community via well established communication channels.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said introducing parking fees was necessary to help cover a $400 million damage bill from bushfires and unprecedented rains in the past three years – read ABC article here with more info. Whatever the stated reason, we can be sure they won’t be removing the parking meters once they have paid off the damage bill. We believe there must be a fairer and more equitable way to pay off this bill that doesn’t disadvantage a long term user group.

This decision to meter trailheads and lookouts also affects bushwalkers, trail runners, abseilers – all heavy recreational users of these areas for many decades. Local residents can apply for a permit exemption – however the time limits still apply. Go over this limit and a hefty fine is coming your way despite living in cozy Katoomba.

Councilors unanimously voted 10 to zero for this to happen – with an election coming up next year they should be warned that the political ramifications of such a decision with such a large local recreational community could be severe. The Blue Mountains live and die on the tourist $. This decision will disrupt a well established local tourism industry – the visiting recreational climber.

We need your help! Contact Council today.

Please, urgently, write (preferably) or ring Blue Mountains City Council and lodge a complaint over this poor decision. We have included a form letter at the bottom if you are short on time – but would prefer you write a unique submission if possible. The outcome of this will affect other climbing areas in the future. We can imagine that Shipley car park and Mini Ha Ha Falls may be on their radar… They are already putting meters on the local playground in Blackheath.

Please share this post – even outside of your climbing friends. Know a trail running or bushwalking group that is also affected? Let them know.

Attention: Sebastian Camelleri – Project Manager Citywide Parking
Email council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
Phone (02) 4780 5000
CC the Blue Mountains Councillors behind this decision: mgreenhill@bmcc.nsw.gov.au sredshaw@bmcc.nsw.gov.au kschreiber@bmcc.nsw.gov.au svanopdorp@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Sign the petition & let the press know

You can also sign this Change.org petition against parking meters in the Blue Mountains – however a letter to Council is much more important.

Send a letter to the local newspaper The Blue Mountain’s Gazette at this link.

Use this form letter

Subject: Opposition to Installing Parking Meters in Rock Climbing Areas within Blue Mountains City Council Land

Dear Blue Mountains City Council, 

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the recent decision to install time-limited parking meters at Sublime Point carpark, as well as at Narrow Neck and Katoomba Falls carparks. This decision, coupled with the recent installation of meters at Boars Head and Echo Point, poses a significant concern, particularly for the climbing community and other recreational users of these areas. 

At a rate of $12 per hour during peak periods and $10 per hour during shoulder periods, the introduction of these parking meters appears to disproportionately target tourists. Sublime Point, in particular, is a renowned destination for rock climbers, offering 157 routes and unique wet weather resistance at moderate grades. The proposed fees not only act as a financial burden on climbers but also threaten the established tourism industry in the Blue Mountains. 

The time limits imposed by the parking meters due to the significant hourly cost present additional challenges. Climbers require flexibility and extended periods for safe and enjoyable climbing experiences. Climbing demands methodical decision-making and unhurried movements to ensure the safety of both climbers and those assisting them. Implementing parking meters may inadvertently encourage climbers to take unnecessary risks, compromise safety measures, or hastily conclude their climbs to avoid fines, jeopardizing their well-being. These limitations not only hinder safety margins but also deter recreational climbers who contribute significantly to the local economy. 

Furthermore, the lack of consultation with the recreational rock climbing community and other users of these areas is deeply concerning. The decision was seemingly made without considering the long-established and diverse usage of these spaces. I urge the Blue Mountains City Council to engage in meaningful consultation with the climbing community and reconsider the implementation of time-limited paid parking.

This decision not only impacts climbers but also affects bushwalkers, trail runners, abseilers, and other recreational users who have been enjoying these areas for decades. The potential political ramifications of this decision, especially with an upcoming election, should not be overlooked. The Blue Mountains heavily depend on tourism, and this decision may disrupt the well-established local tourism industry. I kindly request that the Blue Mountains City Council re-evaluate this decision in consultation with the affected communities. Your cooperation is vital in maintaining the balance between tourism and the preservation of the unique recreational and environmental qualities of the Blue Mountains. 

In conclusion, installing parking meters in areas designated for rock climbing within the Blue Mountains City Council land would not only disrupt the essence of climbing but also compromise the safety of participants. I implore the Council to reconsider this proposal and explore alternative measures that do not undermine the fundamental principles and safety considerations integral to the sport of rock climbing.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Post Code] [Contact Information]