Fun Walks Banned As Clubs Lose Insurance
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday June 22, 2002
Bushwalking clubs will no longer be insured for activities above the snow line, canyoning, caving, rock climbing, mountaineering, abseiling or rafting.
For four years, 200 outdoor recreation clubs across the nation have had comprehensive public liability insurance, but attempts to renew the policy for the next financial year have failed.
This is in spite of there being only a single public liability claim resulting in a payout of only a few thousand dollars.
Victorian bushwalker John Scholes was set the task of trying to find an alternative policy. From six brokers, however, only one offer of cover was received, and that underwriter has provided cover only on the basis that activities are restricted.
Bushwalking clubs are exclusively non-profit groups, whose activities are led by volunteers.
According to the NSW Outdoor Recreation Industry Council, the insurers mistakenly believe that simple bushwalking is safer than rope or water activities.
In fact, as a percentage, more people are injured bushwalking than in other activities that sound more dangerous.
The council, which mostly represents private adventure companies, has also learned that it has lost its umbrella insurance for its 300-plus members.
``What we are concerned about is the safety issue now," Mr Scholes said. ``Because officially clubs can't have any activities above the snow line, members will go on a private basis, not covered by insurance.
``Ultimately it may well be that the chance of people getting lost or hurt in accidents will be increased. It will encourage people to go out on their own."
Nationally the former insurance policy provided cover for 23,000 members; 10,000 of these were in NSW.
The snowline restriction will have a dramatic impact on official walking activities in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, where cross-country skiing is an extremely popular club pastime.
``We now can't intentionally or officially go bushwalking in the snow," Mr Scholes said.
The executive officer at the National Parks Association, Andrew Cox, said his organisation, which holds 800 walks a year, has already felt the impact.
Cross-country ski trips have been cancelled and the diversity of walks would have to be curtailed. ``To get from A to B you often have to pull out a rope or do a bit of scrambling, so we are going to have to be less adventurous," Mr Cox said.
``Many of the challenges that are a normal part of a walk won't be covered. Bushwalking is often going off into the unknown and that sort of freedom is being removed or limited."
Mr Cox said organised groups had a high emphasis on safety.
The treasurer of the Confederation of NSW Bushwalking Clubs, Maurice Smith, said so far he had only been able to obtain a verbal assurance from the underwriter that walking in areas like the Blue Mountains, where it occasionally snowed, would still be covered.
``This is a totally knee-jerk over reaction when you consider the claims history."
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald