Desperate call to reopen Uluru climb

It was only seven months ago that the infamous Uluru climb was discontinued, amid much controversy and a race to 'Climb the Rock' for the final time.

At the time Australia's Red Centre, with Uluru as its crown jewel, was a magnet for RV travellers, resulting in traffic jams and overcrowding during the busy Outback winter period. However, with COVID-19 restrictions now in place across Australia, that's unlikely to be a problem this year.

Now, with many NT businesses that rely heavily on tourism struggling to survive, a business lobby group has made the controversial suggestion to re-open Uluru to climbers to help attract visitors back to the area once border restrictions are lifted, which could be as early as August.

Dave Batic, chairman of Alice Springs Major Business Group and general manager of Alice Springs airport, told the ABC that reopening the climb for a period of up to three years, in co-operation with traditional owners, would provide a much-needed boost to the Red Centre tourism industry.

"The concept there is that the traditional owners would provide tours for paying climbers and have a safety harness system in place just like the Sydney Harbour Bridge," Batic said.

He said bold thinking was required as the Northern Territory is "competing against every other state and territory in Australia for the tourism dollar".

Batic said that there were "10,000 less people through the airport per month," as a result of the climb closing last year and like other iconic destinations such as the Sydney Opera House and Great Barrier Reef "the rock is actually going to be our saviour from a tourism perspective",

While some camping is currently allowed within the Northern Territory, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been closed until June 18 due to the Commonwealth Biosecurity Act.

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