Safer Cliffs Queensland is a non-profit voluntary organisation of climbers who maintain the safety of rock climbing areas in Queensland. SCQ has been helping keep Queensland climbers safe from 2002 to 2025.

SCQ's aim since 2002
To ensure each climb remains as safe as it was on its first ascent.

Is SCQ part of ACAQ?
No. Safer Cliffs is an Australia-wide initiative that pre-dates ACAQ by many years. It has groups in most states, and the Queensland chapter of Safer Cliffs (SCQ) has been active since 2002.

Why not simply make SCQ part of ACAQ?
The groups have very different core aims. ACAQ functions to advocate on behalf of climbers to protect access to climbing areas. SCQ is a non-profit fundraising body that aims to gather and safeguard funds over the long term (over 20 years at this point) to ensure that rebolting efforts undertaken by volunteers all over Queensland can be reimbursed, hence encouraging route maintenance and crag stewardship.

What types of activities are undertaken?
Dangerous fixed anchors such as sun damaged slings, worn abseil anchors and rusty bolts are replaced so that the climb is as safe as on its first ascent. Environmental concerns are important to SCQ and every means possible is used to camouflage the replacement fixed anchors so they are less visible than the original dangerous anchors. Equipment used is to the highest quality and designed to last for many decades of regular and continued use. Old fixed anchors that are not being used for modern climbing will be removed and not replaced. We are not involved in retrobolting routes without permission from the first ascentionists.

Moving towards best-practice
While ensuring that SCQ's aim is respected, bolt and glue technology is constantly evolving and SCQ does support the evolution of equipping climbs with respect to world best-practice.

How can I help?
Safer Cliffs Queensland relies entirely on donations of gear, time, equipment and money to continue work. If you have anything to donate, please contact us. You can also keep an eye out for potential issues while you are climbing. If you have the means to fix the issue, do so. If not, you can report the issue here.

Applying for reimbursement
We have a procedure for this. Please contact us to discuss, ideally prior to undertaking work.

DISCLAIMER No single fixed anchor can be guaranteed safe. Natural cliffs are geologically formed places which are constantly changing and as such no anchor placement is always safe. Time, weather, corrosion and other naturally occurring events will damage all anchors over time. Safer Cliffs Queensland does not recommend trusting your life to a single anchor. Unless you are willing to take responsibility for your own life then do not rock climb or abseil. Rock climbers do not sue.