Wollumbin/Mount Warning closure to be extended until December, 2025

The controversial “temporary” closure of the path to the summit of Mt Warning has been extended yet again, in a move that is set to anger opponents who were hopeful of it reopening.

On Thursday, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) issued a statement extending the closure of the Wollumbin summit track “to allow additional time for careful consideration of the site’s future”.

The controversial closure of an iconic mountain summit just south of the Queensland border has been extended for another year in a further blow to protesters hoping to reopen the trail to the public.

The hiking trail to the summit of Wollumbin/Mount Warning has been the subject of a series of “temporary” closures stretching back to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, effectively meaning it has been off limits for almost five years, despite the efforts and protests of a dedicated band of hiking enthusiasts and even NSW politicians.

Debate has been at times fiery, amid fears the popular tourist attraction will become “the next Uluru” in the battle between public access and respect for Aboriginal sensitivities.

A handful of climbers who have defied the closure have been fined hundreds of dollars by park rangers and the trail has become a lightning rod for debate on Australia Day when climbers, often wearing masks, have posted photos at the top in defiance of the ban.

Right to Climb advocate Marc Hendrickx, a long-time campaigner for the mountain to be reopened, said it was “an understatement” to say he was disappointed with the closure extension.

The Mt Warning walking track has been closed due to storm damage but people have still been walking it.

“The track will have been closed for 5 years in March 2025 and there has been more than enough time for the (NSW government Environment) Minister to complete discussions and make a decision that benefits the entire NSW community and not just a handful of activists,” he said.

“The economic damage caused by the unreasonable decision to close the track continues to impact the local community.”

On Thursday, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) issued a statement extending the closure of the Wollumbin summit track “to allow additional time for careful consideration of the site’s future”.

“For more than a decade, access to the Wollumbin summit track has presented complex challenges. The NSW Government is committed to enhancing consultation processes for the future management of the track,” the statement said.

“NPWS acknowledges the uncertainty the process has caused the community and businesses.

“For Aboriginal people there is a deep cultural and spiritual significance of Wollumbin, which is a declared Aboriginal place.

“Ensuring that all stakeholders, particularly Aboriginal custodians, are meaningfully engaged is critical to any future decisions about the site.

“For community, council and business the future of this site is also important.

“NPWS will continue to maintain and develop visitation opportunities in the region to support local communities and their economies.

“This includes Nightcap, Mount Jerusalem and Border Ranges national parks and the new Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk.”

Wollumbin National Park remains open, but the summit track and summit itself remain closed.

The current closure will now remain in place until at least December 31, 2025.