Fate of Wollumbin Mount Warning hiking trail revealed

The fate of the beloved Wollumbin Mount Warning hiking trail has been revealed – and not everyone will be happy with the outcome. Here’s what’s happening and why.

The famous Wollumbin/Mount Warning hiking trail will be permanently closed and even images promoting the attraction would be banned after a move to give control of the site to Aboriginal custodians.

Representatives from the Wollumbin Consultative Group say public access to the beloved Tweed Valley site is not “culturally appropriate or safe” and even tourism images featuring the attraction for advertising or promotion should be prohibited.

NSW Environment Minister James Griffin on Thursday released a statement confirming the future use of the much-loved mountain – which has already been closed to the public for more than two years due to a number of factors, would now be guided by the WCG, which represents a range of Aboriginal groups and families with a connection to the site.

In a management plan prepared in conjunction with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the WCG says they have “a cultural obligation and responsibility to uphold their cultural law and protect the cultural values of Wollumbin Aboriginal Place”.

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The sun has set for climbers at Wollumbin Mount Warning. Picture: Bruce Westerlund

“Public access is not culturally appropriate or culturally safe, Wollumbin should not be a recreational space for the public to visit or use for tourism (including use of the image of Wollumbin for advertising purposes) or any other purpose,” the management plan says.

“Closure of the Wollumbin Aboriginal Place is sought immediately by the WCG’s Wollumbin Aboriginal stakeholders.”

The hiking trail to the summit – the first place in Australia to catch the day’s sunrise, has been closed since early 2020, initially because of difficulties enforcing social distancing on the walking track and at the observation platforms at the top of the mountain during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, when those measures were no longer required, the mountain remained closed, under the guise that the trail had fallen into disrepair and needed remedial works.

Hiking enthusiasts feared the explanations only served to mask an intention to permanently close the trail.

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Mr Griffin said the development of a memorandum of understanding would provide a framework for Aboriginal decision making about the national park, including any future decisions regarding the summit track and the installation of new visitor infrastructure.

“We’re committed to putting Aboriginal land management and stewardship at the heart of our efforts to conserve our precious environment and care for Country, which is why any future decisions about Wollumbin will be guided by Aboriginal custodians,” he said.

“While the summit track at Wollumbin remains closed, there are alternative trails for visitors and hikers to choose from in the region.”

Uluru has also been closed to hikers in recent years. Picture: @kev.747.photos via Instagram

Requests for an interview with representatives from the WCG were declined, but in the NSW Environment Minister’s statement, a spokesperson said “Wollumbin is of the highest significance to the Aboriginal nations, particularly the Bundjalung nation in northern NSW”.

“(It is) a sacred ceremonial and cultural complex that is linked to traditional law and custom,” the spokesperson said.

“We have a responsibility for caring for Country, our environment, plants, animals, water, earth, and sky.

“As the oldest living culture in the world, we are sharing our cultural knowledge and entrusting this knowledge with the broader community so that our values, tradition, and law are respected, understood and acknowledged.”

Climbing advocate Marc Hendrickx, who has long lobbied the NSW government to reopen the park, said he was shattered by the decision.

“This deeply-flawed plan ignores dissenting Aboriginal voices who encouraged the public to climb the summit, bans all public access, and allows for removal of any trace of western culture,” he said.

Tweed Tourism has also been contacted for comment.

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