The Canyon Fund

Supporting responsible, low impact and safe canyon maintenance.

DRAFT

The Canyon Fund supports the replacement of substandard fixed anchors used in recreational canyoning across Australia.

Its mission is to enhance safety, encourage sustainable practices, and support the responsible maintenance of canyoning routes.

As canyoning grows in popularity, many routes increasingly depend on fixed anchors - such as permanently installed bolts and slings - for safe passage.

Despite widespread use, the financial and physical effort required to maintain these routes is typically carried by a small group of dedicated canyoners. The Canyon Fund aims to ease this burden by spreading the cost of replacement anchoring material across the community.

This initiative is consistent with similar canyoning and climbing funds established within the rock climbing and canyoning communities in Australia and New Zealand.

3% Cover the Fee

Why give?

  • Share the burden

    Canyons are enjoyed by thousands but the cost of maintaining canyons is often borne by a few passionate volunteers.

  • Safer for all

    Funding helps ensure that canyons have safe, reliable and low impact abseil points - reducing risks for all users.

  • Protect the environment

    Reduce the impact of high visitation, poor anchor placements, erosion, and vegetation trampling

  • Long-lasting impact

    A few dollars today can fund anchors that will serve hundreds, if not thousands, of canyoners in the coming decades

  • Ethical & supported

    A formal fund, especially one overseen by a group like the Canyon Care Consultation Committee, encourages best practices and community consultation

  • Sustainable use

    As canyoning grows in popularity, formal funds help manage the increased pressure on limited resources, ensuring the sport grows responsibly and sustainably.

The details

Objectives

The Canyon Fund will:

  • Promote safety by supporting route and anchor system management in popular and high-use canyons.

  • Protect the environment by encouraging thoughtful, sustainable, and durable canyon anchor replacement practices.

  • Encourage best practices by aligning with established bolting guidelines and national and international standards.

  • Enable transparency in the distribution of funding or in-kind support.

  • Preserve access by maintaining safe canyoning conditions.

Scope and activities

The fund will support:

  • The purchase of high-quality standards compliant anchoring material (e.g. EN959-compliant 316-grade stainless steel maillons and bolts).

  • The replacement of anchoring materials that show signs of degradation or contribute to a net negative impact on the environment.

  • Training and upskilling of bolters in line with Safer Cliffs Australia best practices.

Governance and management

The fund will be overseen by Canyoning Australia with input from:

Funding for projects is at the discretion of Canyoning Australia and subject to available funds.

Funding sources

The fund will be financed through:

  • Donations

  • Merchandise sales earmarked for the The Canyon Fund

  • Sponsorship (in-kind or financial) from outdoor brands and allied organisations

Community engagement and transparency

To maintain community trust and engagement:

  • All expenditures and funded projects will be published on the Canyoning Australia website.

  • Community members will be able to nominate routes for assessment.

  • Where relevant, projects will be referred to the Canyon Care Consultation Committee for feedback.

Submitting a project

To request support from The Canyon Fund, follow these simple steps:

  • Prepare a brief proposal including:

    • The name and location of the canyon

    • Description of the work (e.g. anchor replacement, anchor relocation, access/egress route maintenance)

    • Estimated costs and materials needed

    • Any land manager approvals (if applicable)

  • Demonstrate alignment with the fund’s goals:

    • Safety improvement

    • Environmental sustainability

    • Community benefit

  • Submit your proposal via auscanyoningassoc+fund@gmail.com

  • Be open to feedback from Canyoning Australia and, where relevant, the Canyon Care Consultation Committee.

 FAQs

  • No. We simply raise awareness of substandard anchors, facilitate discussion and through The Canyon Fund provide a mechanism to supply community funded anchoring material. The maintenance of anchors is carried out by private individuals.

  • No. No anchor is intrinsically safe. All anchors, regardless of material or construction, must be assessed for suitability before use. The ultimate responsibility for your safety lies with individual canyoner.

    Note: in many Australian states and territories canyoning is considered a dangerous recreational activity under various legislation (i.e. Civil Liability Acts).

  • Canyoning Australia does not install or maintain anchors. This is done by private members of the canyoning community.

    Installation of anchors, regardless of material or construction, is in many cases a practical necessity of the activity.

    Their installation should be low impact and inline with our ethics and bolting guidelines.

  • No. The Canyon Fund is for serious and substantive projects. It is not intended as a mechanism to supply canyoners with decoration for their harness.

  • Yes. Other funds exist to support the climbing and caving communties.

  • No. However each submission is assessed on a case by case basis and Canyoning Australia may choose to fully fund, partially fund or decline to fund the submission.

  • The fund purchase materials and distributes them to volunteers. It does not distribute money except by limited exception, where logistical challenges may make distributing materials  impractical. In this circumstances where support is financial the volunteer  is expected to purchase materials using their own money and only after providing proof of work will be reimbursed.

  • You are required to work with Canyoning Australia to either reschedule the project or return the supplied material or funds.

  • Materials supplied should be used within a reasonable timeframe or returned. They are not meant to be left on a shelf.

  • Yes, however you will need to provide details and proof of work along with itemised costs. Canyoning Australia may choose to fully fund, partially fund or decline to fund the submission.

  • No but you must work with Canyoning Australia to establish a new schedule.

  • Unused material or funds must be returned. It is unlikely you will be provided with excess material.