< Policies & procedures

Terms of Reference

Canyon Care Consultation Committee

1. Purpose

The Canyon Care Consultation Committee (CCCC) is an informal advisory body convened by Canyoning Australia to provide input and community consultation on canyon maintenance activities in Australia. These activities may include, but are not limited to, anchor installation and replacement (e.g. bolting, sling + maillon etc), access and egress improvements, and track maintenance. The CCCC serves as a conduit for dialogue between the broader canyoning community and individuals or groups seeking to undertake such activities.

2. Role and Function

  • To offer non-binding advice and community insights to individuals or groups undertaking canyon maintenance.

  • To act as a representative voice for the diversity of perspectives within the Australian canyoning community.

  • To contribute constructively to the evolution of safe, ethical, and sustainable canyoning practices in Australia.

3. Structure and Membership

  • The CCCC is an informal collective of stakeholders selected to reflect the broad and diverse spectrum of the canyoning community.

  • Membership is determined at the discretion of Canyoning Australia.

  • There is no formal limit on the number of members.

  • Members may be consulted individually or collectively, depending on the nature of the matter under consideration.

  • Participation in the CCCC is voluntary, and members may withdraw at any time.

4. Operations

  • Items for consideration may be submitted to Canyoning Australia by any party. Canyoning Australia will anonymise the request before sharing it with CCCC members.

  • Feedback from CCCC members will be anonymised before being passed on.

  • The group will operate on an ad hoc basis with no fixed meeting schedule.

  • Canyoning Australia will maintain a record of anonymised deliberations and recommendations for transparency and future reference.

5. Expectations of Members

Members of the CCCC are expected to:

  • Be discreet: Maintain confidentiality regarding individuals seeking input. Canyon maintenance often occurs in legal grey areas and must be treated sensitively.

  • Respect diversity of views: Acknowledge differing opinions within the community and engage with respect.

  • Be constructive: Offer thoughtful, reasoned input to help guide ethical and beneficial canyon maintenance.

  • Support evolution: Recognise that canyoning practices, ethics, and equipment evolve and be open to change.

  • Avoid parochialism: Engage with a national and international perspective; Australian canyoning extends beyond any single region.

Failure to act in good faith or to adhere to these expectations may result in removal from the group.

6. Disclaimer

  • The CCCC is an informal advisory body and holds no regulatory authority. Canyoning Australia and/or CCCC cannot enforce its recommendations.

  • The CCCC is only one mechanism for community input. Feedback may be sourced from other sources beyond Canyoning Australia’s influence.

  • Canyoning Australia and the CCCC are not responsible for maintenance activities carried out by private individuals or entities.

  • It is the responsibility of individual to engage with the CCCC; such engagement is not mandatory.

  • Canyoning Australia will withhold the identities of those seeking advice from the CCCC for privacy and liability reasons.