Proper Good Vibes ‘temporarily’ closes access to Camerons Pocket swimming hole near Mackay

A Qld community has been left outraged after access to a popular swimming hole was closed by an Indigenous group which cited problems including pollution, vandalism and overcrowding.

Camerons Pocket in Mount Charlton, near Mackay, has been shut down by an Aboriginal group. Picture: File

An Aboriginal company called Proper Good Vibes Pty Ltd has shut access to a popular swimming spot near Mackay, sparking community outrage.

The company has “temporarily” closed the gate on a public road leading to Camerons Pocket waterhole in the Eungella National Park, citing problems including pollution, vandalism and overcrowding.

A sign with an Aboriginal flag has been placed on Brodies Rd, which leads to the waterhole, declaring “access through temporarily closed… due to the high volume of people abusing the natural surrounds, contaminating the water, vandalism, theft and overcrowding issues”.

The closure has upset locals and the Mackay Regional Council, which has hit the company with a notice ordering it to re-open the road by next week or face action.

A sign with an Aboriginal flag has been placed on Brodies Rd, which leads to the waterhole.

Angry residents have taken to Facebook to slam the move.

“No-one owns the swimming hole or the road to it, the road is a public road and the creek is national park… they believe they run the show, they don’t even own the property yet,” one local posted on a Mackay community Facebook page.

Writing on Facebook, Cr George Christensen said he had received complaints from residents about “this sign and the blocking off of Brodies Rd and Camerons Pocket”.

“Brodies Rd is a gazetted road reserve and motorists should NOT be blocked from accessing the road. I am advised that council is taking action,” he wrote.

But a spokesman for Proper Good Vibes, which was established last month and is in the process of buying a Brodies Rd property it is currently leasing, has defended the closure - saying it’s been done to protect the environment and visitors to the area.

Camerons Pocket, near Calen. Photo Peter Holt

He said he and business partner, Aboriginal artist, Leon Namai had closed the road ‘on King Charles’ birthday’ last month after 57 cars drove through “veering off the road, driving through our property, tearing it up and stealing fruit and vegetables”.

“We found 126 dirty nappies and 58 sanitary pads scattered down by the swimming hole, human faeces floating through our drinking water, a dead goanna that had its head smashed in by beer bottles and longneck turtles deserting the area,” he said.

“Leon and I are First Nations people and we are custodians of this country. We don’t have rights, we have responsibilities (and) our responsibility is to protect nature at all times.”

The spokesman said he had been unsuccessful lobbying the council to allow Proper Good Vibes to put public toilets and rubbish bins down by the swimming hole, and a walking track through the property as well as a carpark to reduce traffic.

“We’ll fund this ourselves, we’re not asking council for a cent - we just need a permit,” he said.

He said council officers visited the property last week and served a compliance notice.

“We told them, ‘guys, we’re not trying to stop the public enjoying the swimming hole, we’re trying to make sure it’s safe for them.” he said.

“Nature and the environment needs to be protected as well. It’s unacceptable. Something needs to be urgently done about it and council’s not prepared to urgently do anything apart from urgently force us to reopen the gates so we’ve got the same problem.

Camerons Pocket near Mackay. Picture: Contributed

“I’m saying ‘fine me then’. I’m going to stand strong as a First Nations person, and I will stand strong and I will protect our country, I will protect our land, I will protect our nature and I will protect the humans that reside in it as well.

“I want this resolved, I want the public to be able to enjoy a natural swimming hole, but we need them to be able to enjoy it in a safe way, that’s the most important thing - human safety and nature’s safety.”

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the council was working with the lessees of the property surrounding Brodies Rd.

“Brodies Rd is a public access road that allows motorists to access the popular Cameron’s

Pocket swimming hole,” he said in a statement.

“The lessee has highlighted a number of issues, including the number of motorists using the

road, rubbish being left behind and lack of consideration for the environment, and more.

“Council is committed to finding an amicable solution to the issues outlined by the lessee.

“Council encourages anyone using the road and swimming hole to keep in mind the

surrounding residents, national parks and wildlife and stay off private property and take all

rubbish with you when you leave.”