“As our sorrow turns rage and anger we will fight for our park to be reinstated.”

Gold Coast hinterland residents say they are devastated after the Environment Department demolished historic picnic shelters and a toilet block in a hinterland park. SEE PICTURES OF THE DESTRUCTION

GOLD Coast hinterland residents say they are devastated after the Environment Department demolished historic picnic shelters and a toilet block to create a green space at Numinbah.

About 20 residents formed a blockade on Wednesday in a last-minute bid to save facilities at the popular swimming hole at the Numinbah Forest Park, just south of the township.

The Numinbah Forest Park in the Gold Coast hinterland after demolition crews cleared buildings.

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Resident Danni Yaun in a Facebook update to the community said the fight would continue to have the park reinstated after the bulldozers smashed facilities.

She told The Bulletin a petition to be presented to State Parliament by Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates to protect the park had been signed by 2725 people and was gathering support.

“This (the shelter) was a beautiful piece of art. We feel so gutted ... what they have done just makes no sense. We could have all come up with answers to keep our cultural history,” Ms Yaun said.

The Numinbah Forest Park after facilities were cleared in the Gold Coast hinterland.

“The Minister claims she is giving the community green space to be enjoyed all year round. That’s what we bloody well had and was shared by many Gold Coast families and beyond. As our sorrow turns rage and anger we will fight for our park to be reinstated.”

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, in a response to Ms Bates, said the Government was committed to providing quality visitor experiences within Springbrook National Park and in recent years had invested in excess of $3 million to upgrade visitor facilities.

“Unfortunately, it is well known that the facilities at the Forest Park have, for some time, been the target of vandals and a hotspot for anti-social behaviour,” she said.

“Along with illegal camping and fires, rangers are consistently responding to the damage and theft of public assets. In recent times this has included the theft of a picnic table, two water pumps and copper plumbing from the toilet block, as well as damage to the toilet and hand basin fixtures.

The historic picnic shed at Numinbah Forest Park in the Gold Coast hinterland before being demolished.

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“This vandalism and theft have come at a cost of many thousands of dollars. The removal of the facilities at this location and the decision to restore the site to its natural condition has been carefully considered.”

Ms Enoch said public access to Numinbah Forest Park would remain so that visitors and the local community could continue to enjoy nature, swimming and the site’s natural amenity.

Ms Bates told The Bulletin: “The Minister clearly has not gauged the local sentiment on this issue and this from a Labor Government who continually spruiks that they consult.

Swimming hole at the popular Numinbah Forest Park.

“Labor has form on ripping out amenities in the Hinterland. We are supposed to be the green behind the gold but what this signals to the local community is that they don’t matter under a Labor Government.

“We’ve got trees all over the district. What we need is more recreational opportunities with full facilities to cater for the expanding population.”