Fresh hope to reopen heart-shaped pool Killarney Glen

THE Gold Coast heart-shaped waterhole that became a viral sensation on Instagram before a tragic drowning last year may finally have hope of reopening.

There’s new hope to reopen the heart-shaped Killarney Glen. Photo: Demi (ccharlie_dc)

SCENIC Rim bosses want to hire indigenous rangers to patrol Killarney Glen so the iconic heart-shaped waterfall can be reopened to the public.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the council was in talks with local indigenous groups — including the Wangerriburra people, the Mununjali people and those of the Yugambeh and Jagera language groups — to learn the significance of the Hinterland waterfalls along Back Creek Gorge west of the Gold Coast.

“We’ve asked them to help us understand the significance of that whole corridor … from the border to that northern end of Tamborine Mountain,” Mayor Christensen said.

Killarney Glen became ‘over loved’ after it went viral on social media. Photo: Regi Varghese

“If it had significance to them, we’d love to explore how they can play an indigenous ranger role in the preservation of the site and the access to the site.

“We would hope that people would respect that type of control.”

Killarney Glen, on Australian Defence Force land, has been closed to the public since a 19-year-old died there last December.

The waterhole was extremely popular on social media site Instagram, where visitors would post pictures of its natural, heart-shaped beauty.

Diana Voigt and Tom Bridges enjoy a dip at the love heart shaped rock pool at Killarney Glen. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Nearby Denham Falls also has been closed for much of the year after a private landowner denied public access to the waterfall.

Mayor Christensen said he wanted to maximise the tourism potential of Killarney Glen and other waterfalls in the region, but said a range of issues needed to be addressed. They included safety, restricted access, land damage and trespassing on neighbouring private land.

“We’ve had people dumping their baby’s nappy in someone’s front yard,” he said.

It takes a 2.5km trek through bush and rainforest to reach Killarney Glen. Picture by Scott Fletcher

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said while Killarney Glen and Denham Reserve did not meet requirements to become a state conservation park, the department was keen to help preserve and keep sites safe.

“While the land is not national park, QPWS (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) has officers who are experienced in providing appropriate visitor management infrastructure to maximise public safety, and with delivering eco-friendly tourism opportunities on reserves,” he said.

“Those officers can always be made available to share their expertise.”