Bouldering & Abseiling Investigation
City of Ipswich engaged TouchPoint One to lead the Suitability Investigation for rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling within the Conservation Estates on land managed by Ipswich City Council.
Purpose
The aim of this project is to establish a long-term policy position for the provision and management of rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling opportunities on land managed by Ipswich City Council.
The intent is that the policy position will set clear guidelines for the management of rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling to reduce risk to participants and Council, and protect the ecological and cultural heritage significance at sites where these activities occur.
The Team
TouchPoint One has assembled a team comprised of Epic Environmental, an environmental engineering consultancy; Seima Safety, rope access technicians and safety specialists; and QORF, the peak body for outdoor recreation in Queensland, to crush this project. QORF’s role in this project includes community consultation and engagement.
Background
There are a number of questions that Council wants to address through this project, including:
- Are there suitable sites for rock climbing in Ipswich?
- Are there any rock climbing sites within Ipswich that have no cultural heritage or ecological/environmental significance?
- What can be done to reduce or minimise impact of rock climbing on sites of cultural heritage or ecological/environmental significance?
- Are there sites within Ipswich that enable rock climbing activities to be undertaken in a safe manner while protecting ecological values and cultural heritage significance?
- Are identified rock climbing sites geologically/structurally suitable to enable rock climbing activities to occur in a safe and sustainable manner?
- Can safe access be provided to rock climbing sites, and can the activities be made safer for participants, no matter their ability, while reducing risk and liability for the participant and Council?
Objectives
The objectives of the project are as follows:
- Gain a greater understanding of current and future demands and participation in rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling activities on land managed by Ipswich City Council.
- Identification and assessment of the suitability and appropriateness of known and potential rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling sites on land managed by Ipswich City Council.
- Protect sites of cultural heritage significance.
- Protect sites of significant ecological value.
- Establish a policy and management position for rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling on land managed by Ipswich City Council.
- Provision of appropriate opportunities, where feasible, for rock climbing, bouldering and abseiling on land managed by Ipswich City Council, for all members of the public that is safe and reduces risk to participants and Council.
Current Stage
The project team implemented a logical site suitability assessment methodology to evaluate the sites. This involved a desktop assessment of the sites followed by field work to confirm and validate evaluation outcomes.
See also for more information: Ipswich Rock Climbing, Bouldering & Abseiling Forum
