The Greater Gariwerd Landscape Management plan outlines how Parks Victoria aims to protect the park's natural and cultural heritage, while balancing tourist visitation.

It will also seek to fine some resolution over highly controversial management practice which saw rock climbers banned from parts of the park several years ago .

For over fifty years the Grampians were an international draw-card for some of the finest cliffs in the country. Some like Taipan Wall near Mount Staplyton have been cited as holding some of the best pure climbing in the world.

But in 2019 Parks management put its foot down and banned climbing at a range of popular claiming climbers were damaging indigenous sites.

The climbers counter-claimed that climbers were strict environmentalists and Parks Vic had used photos of damage as proof that were in fact perpetrated by the park management.

The climbers also said they wanted to work with indigenous groups to resolve any issues

The current plan releases by Parks Victoria has been developed in partnership with traditional owners groups; Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, who invite visitors to learn about the cultural landscape.

The project begun in 2019, with a draft released in November 2020.

There is at present no plan to introduce dingoes into the wild in the Grampians National Park, although Parks Victoria support "ongoing discussions" between traditional owner groups, neighbouring communities and the farming sector.

The idea of reintroducing dingoes to the park was brought up during planning discussions in late 2020.

The proposal faced criticism from nearby livestock farmers, with Lowan member Emma Kealy calling the idea "preposterous".

Parks Victoria have listed 103 designated climbing areas of the national park and listed another 275 areas for review.

Two different types of special protection areas (SPA) have been identified in the plan - cultural values SPAs and natural values SPAs.

There are 26 natural values SPAs and 50 cultural values SPAs listed in the report, dictating where visitors to the park can walk and climb.

In late 2020 and early 2021, concerned rock climbers and residents held meetings to raise concerns about the closing of rock climbing sites, and how closures could affect business and tourism in the area.

In the short term, the document outlines a plan to promote traditional owner place names for areas of the Grampians, seeking to change the name of the park to Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

The plan also outlines several other traditional owner place names for areas in the park, such as Burrunj State Park for the Black Range State Park, and Mount Mud-dadjug for Mount Abrupt.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio said the plan would ensure the area's unique environment and cultural heritage were protected for current and future generations.

"The Greater Gariwerd Landscape Management Plan promotes healing and restoration of Country by balancing the different views about how this unique and special landscape is used," Ms D'Ambrosio said.

"It ensures the environment and cultural heritage will be protected by setting out where recreation, tourism and other activities can occur."

"This plan has been developed after thorough consultation with the public and ensures this precious landscape is protected for future generations to enjoy."

The national park includes the highest concentration of known rock art in Victoria as well as nearly a third of Victoria's plant species, providing critical habitat for threatened animals.

With more than one million visitors to the Grampians each year, the plan seeks to promote healing and restoration of Country, sustainable visitation and recreation and balance the many different views about how the landscape should be used and protected.

Developed after two years of public consultation it will ensure the parks and reserves are protected for current and future generations.

The Victorian Government has invested $775,000 towards implementing the ongoing governance partnership model with Traditional Owners, restoring and protecting culturally significant places like rock shelters and rock art and creating a free rock-climbing permit system within the next 12 months.

You can view the full document here.