Queensland Government calls for hikers not to climb Tibrogargan during NAIDOC Week as ‘sign of respect’

Fierce debate has erupted over calls for hikers to avoid the Glass House Mountains out of respect to Indigenous people during NAIDOC Week.

The Queensland department of environment has urged visitors to Tibrogargan not to climb the summit during Naidoc Week. Picture: Anita Kolaroski

Fierce debate has erupted over calls for hikers to steer clear of an iconic Sunshine Coast mountain out of respect to Indigenous people during NAIDOC Week.

Amid ongoing controversy over access to popular sites such as Uluru and Wollumbin/Mount Warning, the Queensland department of environment has urged visitors to Tibrogargan not to climb the summit this week.

Like Wollumbin in the Tweed, which has been off limits to hikers since the start of the coronavirus pandemic amid fears it will be permanently closed in deference to a mysterious Indigenous outfit known as the Wollumbin Consultative Group, the Glass House Mountains have also been the subject of speculation over whether climbers will be banned in the future.

Tibrogargan attracts more than 20,000 hikers each year, a similar number to Mount Beerwah, which has also been the subject of pleas for people not to scale the peak due to its cultural significance to local Aboriginal people.

Mount Tibrogargan on the Sunshine Coast.

Mount Beerwah is temporarily closed after a spate of vandalism and damage to the rock faces.

In a statement on the Queensland government’s department of environment website, visitors to Tibrogargan are urged not to climb the “culturally sensitive” summit during this week’s celebration of Indigenous culture and heritage.

“During this year’s NAIDOC Week Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and the Kabi Kabi First Nations People are asking visitors to please consider not climbing the culturally sensitive summit of Tibrogargan,” the statement said.

“To give nature a ‘rest’ and as a sign of respect for the Kabi Kabi people.”

The move sparked fierce debate amongst hiking enthusiasts, with climbers quick to take sides.

A forum on the Australian Climbing Association of Queensland saw some hikers defend the recommendation.

“This seems reasonable,” wrote Aaron Wiegand.

“One week out of a year is a very good compromise and is not too much to ask.”

Others pointed out that natural attractions in other parts of the world had similar arrangements where destinations were blocked off for a limited time each year or month.

But others feared the request would be just the first step in a move to shut the mountain permanently.

“The frog is slowly being boiled and it doesn’t realise it at all,” wrote Andrew Flanagan.

“QPWS need to see the public demand to have these places accessible to all.”

At Wollumbin, the NSW government has taken the extraordinary step of employing security guards – at a cost of $7000 a week, to ensure hikers don’t defy the climbing ban.

The NSW NPWS maintains no final decision has been made on the fate of Wollumbin.