Gold Coast Skyride may flush out Springbrook’s beast of the bush

HUNTERS of an elusive beast, likened to that of theBigfoot or a yeti, believe the approval of theproposed Springbrook Skyride could lead to new sightings.

Tourists on the proposed Springbrook Sky Ride could have the extra bonus of spotting a Yowie according to Dean Harrison.

IT’S  rare, covered in hair and as elusive as the Himalayan yeti and North American Bigfoot.

And while many believe the Australian Yowie to be a figment of the imagination, one expert anticipates the proposed Springbrook Skyride could bring it out into the open.

The big, hairy, reclusive, apelike creatures are thought to roam the Coast’s hinterland. But if given the go-ahead, the $100 million Gold Coast Sky­ride will take patrons smack over the middle of some of Australia’s prime yowie habitat, increasing the chances that tourists could spot the secretive animal.

Gold Coast Yowie hunter Dean Harrison said that over the past decades there had been a vast number of Yowie sightings throughout the Gold Coast Hinterland from various members of the public, park rangers and even former politician Bill O’Chee.

Tourists on the proposed Springbrook Sky Ride could have the extra bonus of spotting a yowie according to Dean Harrison.

“The majority of the Gold Coast Yowie reports come from areas surrounding the Lamington National Forest, Nerang State Forest, Numimbah, the area surrounding Little Nerang Dam and above all, Springbrook,” he said.

“The vastly virgin forest and valleys along which the cable car route is proposed is a prime location for the relic hominid.”

Mr Harrison said while the secret to Yowies’ surprising survival into the 21st century was their ability to remain hidden from humans, they may eventually be lured to a false level of confidence by the cable car.

“They do make mistakes — thus the thousands of sightings across southeast Queensland over the past two centuries,” he said. “If the cable car route is constructed, I doubt there will be any sightings by workers because they will more than likely stay clear of any activity. They would also be very wary of the cable car once established.

Jason Heal and Jason Dunn claim to have captured vision of an Australian Bigfoot say they “convinced” it to appear on film by offering apples. Jason Heal and Jason Dunn’s grainy vision of a creature with glowing eyes shot in Queensland on March 29 has had more than a million YouTube hits since April 5. Picture: YOUTUBE/JJYOWIESEARCH

“They will at some stage have to cross under the cable cars. Whether they choose to do this at night under the cloak of darkness, or perhaps one day slip and become complacent on one given day during daylight is anyone’s guess.

“They blend in well and the forest canopy would make it very easy to escape view.

“However, it’s not unreasonable to think in time to come a mistake will be made on their behalf and somebody may sight one.

“But they will certainly be one thing for people to keep an eye out for.”

Yowie hunters say there are two distinct species of the humanoid-like beasts in Australia. One is a smaller species that grows to about 1.5m; the other, a larger species that can grow to as large as 3m. Both are covered in hair and speculation is they are related to or are surviving members of the hominid species Australopithecine.

Gold Coast Skyride spokesman Terry Jackman said that when and if the project was complete it was hoped that patrons would see a lot of wildlife.

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