Tweed Shire Council candidate Kimberley Hone proposes plan to reopen Mount Warning/Wollumbin

A Tweed council candidate says she has the solution to reopen Wollumbin/Mt Warning to the general public as tensions simmer over the contentious site. Here’s her plan.

A Tweed council candidate has devised a unique plan to reopen Wollumbin/Mount Warning to the general public as tensions simmer over the contentious site.

Kimberly Hone, a Tweed Shire Council candidate in the upcoming NSW Local Government elections said her new model to reintroduce access to the mountain and popular tourism landmark would be “self-sustaining”.

Ms Hone, a Nationals Party member, has been endorsed by long-serving Tweed councillor Warren Polglase.

Tweed Shire Council candidate Kimberly Horne is intent on seeing the mountain reopen to the public. Picture: Facebook.

Earlier this month, a hiker protesting the controversial closure of the summit trail became the first person to be fined for defying a climbing ban which has been in place since early 2020.

The summit was closed initially due to flood damage and Covid-19 restrictions, but took a turn when a conflict erupted between local Indigenous groups and hikers over access rights.

There has been no sufficient community consultation on the matter for years.

Marc Hendrickx from the Right to Climb advocacy group has been a vocal critic of the long-running saga.

He received a $300 fine just one day before a planned rally at the base of the mountain expected to attract up to 100 stakeholders calling for the trail to be reopened to the public.

NSW MP John Ruddick also defied the ban and climbed the summit with Mr Hendrickx in April. He was not fined.

Hikers have defied a climbing ban at Mount Warning/Wollumbin in the Tweed to scale the summit for an Australia Day sunrise. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ruddick said he was among about 20 people who defied the climbing ban.

Ms Hone, who told local newspaper Tweed Valley Weekly this week her priority if elected as a councillor would be to “advocate for our community’s needs”, said the closure of Mount Warning/Wollumbin was costing local businesses an estimated loss of $12 million per year.

The summit, overlooking the expansive Tweed Valley caldera and beyond, attracted about 170,000 visitors each year.

“After a petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures to reopen access to the iconic landmark and a successful rally, Ms Hone has committed to restoring access with a new proposal to boost the economy and support locals,” a spokesperson for Ms Hone said.

Ms Hone said a “culturally appropriate tourism model” would best serve the site.

“This closure means millions lost each year for local businesses. However, we can turn this situation around by introducing a sustainable, culturally appropriate tourism model, which could bring in enough money to look after the park and revive surrounding tourism, “she said.

Under Ms Hone’s plan, visitors would pay a nominal fee of $10 to access the walk, comparable to tickets for other popular bushwalks and National Parks in traditional lands around Australia.

Wollumbin (Mt Warning) has been off-limits since 2020. Picture: Destination NSW

“This proposal could generate about $1 million yearly, which could fund a team of local Indigenous rangers,” she said.

“Why would you lock people out when you can bring them in, teach them the cultural significance of the place, and help fund maintenance to keep the national park pristine?

“Reopening the site would also revive the region’s unique eco-tourism hub, including the renowned Rail Trail and world-class Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah.”

Author of A Guide to Climbing Mount Warning and Save our Summits Association president Marc Hendrickx said a self-funded model with free access to locals could be a viable option.

“All Australians have the right to enjoy our natural wonders,” he said.

The local direct descendants of the Ngarakwal Nganduwal elder Marlene Boyd have backed calls to reopen the summit trail.

“Our current councillors are sitting on their hands, calling for more costly consultations while our community suffers,” Ms Hone said.

“It’s time to act. I am dedicated to negotiating with all stakeholders to bring back the mountain.”

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