Killarney Glen heart-shaped waterfall: Department of Defence dodges questions about whether the site will ever reopen

A famous waterfall locked away behind the Gold Coast hinterland has been identified as a “potentially iconic site” for tourism.

A FAMOUS waterfall locked away in the Gold Coast hinterland has been identified as a “potentially iconic site” for tourism but the land owner — the Department of Defence — continues to dodge questions about whether the site will ever reopen.

The heart-shaped Killarney Glen at Beechmont, which became extremely popular through enviable social media posts, has been closed for more than two years after the drowning death of a teenager in December 2016.

A soldier locks the gate to Killarney Glen. Photo: Regi Varghese.

But locking the waterfall behind a 2m high entry gate has done little to slow determined visitors from taking a dip, with locals reporting they regularly see cars parked near the entry.

New photos of the swimming hole are regularly uploaded to social media.

In October 2017, when the issue last blew up, Defence conceded people continued to trespass in the area and that it was discussing the future of the site with “stakeholders’’.

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Yesterday, the department dodged questions whether the site would be reopened, whether discussions had achieved anything and if a 2016 report it commissioned into the site had been completed.

Division 3 Scenic Rim Councillor Virginia West pictured at the entrance track to Killarney Glen. Photo: David Clark.

Instead, the department said it “continues to engage with multiple stakeholders”.

The Queensland Government said it was “no longer involved” in its advisory role at the site.

Long-time Scenic Rim councillor Virginia West, who represents the area, told the Bulletin yesterday she did not want the region’s abundance of stunning waterfalls to be promoted.

Cr West said residents were “fraught with angst” about the popularity of the area’s waterholes, many of which are in the same gorge at Killarney Glen.

“We don’t want to promote it because it doesn’t help anything in the Scenic Rim to have it promoted, Killarney Glen at this stage, it really doesn’t,” Cr West said.

“All the other (streams and waterfalls) on Tamborine Mountain, (like) Cedar Creek Falls, are just fraught with angst for the residents who live there.

“It’s really unpleasant for residents when it’s promoted.”

A large number of people were spotted at Killarney Glen. Photo: Regi Varghese.

This is despite Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen’s comments, in October 2017, that the council wanted the gorge reopened but was bound by the ADF. He had suggested to the ADF that the area be turned into a national park, or that indigenous rangers be used to patrol for safety and to protect the environment.

Scenic Rim’s five-year tourism strategy also states the council would “investigate the feasibility of establishing a site masterplan for the Killarney Glen waterhole to secure future access to this potentially iconic site”.

The document, prepared by Brisbane-based tourism advisory group EarthCheck, stated the strategy’s mission was to “develop vibrant and sustainable tourism and genuine visitor experiences that celebrate the region’s unique and world-class natural assets, rural and small town character and community values”.

Dylan Pearse jumps in the pools. Picture by Scott Fletcher.

But Cr West said many natural parks were at risk of being “loved to death”.

“It’s not designed for lots and lots of people. Everything is lovely but you’ve got to respect (the sites), and having lots of people go in there without the facilities is not the way to do it,” Cr West said.

“If you’re having lots of tourists, they have to be run a little differently. This is the challenge.

Janet Kan, whose father Pat Fitzgerald previously owned the land, said Defence needed to take responsibility and be more proactive with the site before it was trashed or another death occurred.

Ms Kan’s family owned the land off Beechmont Rd for more than 50 years before it was resumed by the Commonwealth Government in the 1970s to become a buffer for the Canungra Land Warfare Centre.

Elyse Karlisle jumps off the rocks at Killarney Glen. Photo: Regi Varghese.

“Let’s be proactive rather than constantly reactive. With Australia Day (the public holiday) coming up it is a good time to reflect and review policy and practice,” Ms Kan said.

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“Every time I drive past there are cars parked at each end of the gorge.

“In the absence of good management, these places are being left to degrade further. The question is how long do we turn a blind eye.

“The public demand for access is alive and well.

“It’s a precious place. I think it is about time there was respect shown for the local community and their heritage and a responsible management plan needs to be put in place, otherwise you’re going to hear about arrest after arrest or accident after accident.

“Nobody is taking responsibility at the moment.”