Where not to go: 60+ beauty spots locked away as state plans $262m to open more parks for cheap holidays
Sections of more than 60 Queensland national parks are now closed to the public, as the government considers unlocking other sites. WHAT’S CLOSED – SEE THE MAP
Logan
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Hikers and nature lovers in Queensland are now barred from sections of more than 60 national parks in an effort to protect the state’s beauty spots.
The latest list of national parks closed to the public include nine that have been fully locked away for more than a decade.
The list also included 64 partially-closed national parks.
Environment Minister Leanne Linard made the closure list public last month while also revealing plans to unlock three new areas to increase the number of cheap holiday options.
The most recent national park closure was in March this year when a section of Lamington National Park, in the Gold Coast hinterland, was closed to protect “natural values”.
A section of the park was closed in February due to the potential for falling rocks associated with construction on private property above the Lower Bellbird track.
The walking track would be temporarily closed between Rankins Paddock and the junction of the Ships Stern circuit, with no date set for it to reopen.
Other popular spots closed to the public included the breathtaking Big Bend at Carnarvon National Park, 600km northwest of Brisbane, which was now off limits for cultural heritage reasons.
Parts of the Clarke Range Walking Track in Eungella National Park, 80km west of Mackay, have been closed after storm damage.
Mount Abbott National Park near Bowen in northern Queensland, was fully closed to the public in 2010 so traditional owners could manage and protect the park’s cultural heritage.
The rich red plains of Astrebla Downs National Park, in Diamantina Shire, have also been protected since 1996.
Dipperu National Park and Epping Forest, south of Mackay, were open only for scientific research.
In the southeast, sections of beauty spots have been closed at St Helena Island National Park, known for its roots as Queensland’s first penal settlement.
Minjerribah/Straddie’s Naree Budjong Djara National Park, Peel Island’s Teerk Roo Ra National Park, Tamborine National Park, Springbrook National Park, Burleigh Head National Park, Lamington National Park, Gatton National Park and Main Range National Park have also been closed in some sections.
Ms Linard said a $262.5 million injection in national parks spending could also result in large new tracts of land being opened up.
Three new areas under consideration were: Baloon Cave in Carnarvon National Park, currently closed after bushfire damage to significant cave stencils; Wallaman Falls Djyinda Walk in Girringun National Park; and parts of Cape Moreton in Gheebulum Kunungai National Park on Moreton Island.
Ms Linard said the state had promised the record spending to expand protected areas in an effort to provide more low-cost holiday options once the new land acquisitions transitioned to national parks.
She said along with having some of the most spectacular natural attractions and cultural sites in Australia, Queensland also offered some of the lowest overnight camping fees at $7.25 per person per night, or $29 per family.
“The commitment to expanding protected areas will provide even more low-cost visitor experiences and holiday options when the new land acquisitions transition to national park,” she said.
“The future addition of the lakes north of Hughenden to a protected area estate will support a drive-tourism experience connecting Blackbraes National Park to one of Queensland’s most magnificent natural wonders, Porcupine Gorge National Park.
“At Logan, entry to the Daisy Hill Koala Centre is free of charge and allows visitors to see koalas up close.”
Other popular and affordable attractions open to the public include the Mon Repos Turtle Centre near Bundaberg and the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park west of Cairns.
But with the state’s population set to rise by more than one million over the next 10 years, the Environment Department was forced to engage consultants to help balance growth and competing demands for access to national parks.
In 2022, consultants Earthcheck carried out a range of Sustainable Visitor Capacity Management studies and found sweeping changes would be necessary to reduce irreversible impacts of visitors and four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Earthcheck spoke with stakeholders at K’gari (Fraser Island), Cooloola Recreation Area and Bribie Island National Park and Recreation Area.
Concerns were raised that there were too many vehicles and people in the parks at peak times, affecting the amenity and potentially damaging the environment.
Earthcheck also recommended limiting the number of people to 1500 and 500 vehicles at Cooloola, along with enforced speed limits.
“At present, many of the behaviour problems experienced are attributed to younger age groups including P-plate drivers,” the Earthcheck report said.
“Focusing regulations to this age group seems a practical solution, but it does raise valid social concerns.
“An option to consider is the impact of compliance measures that apply to all visitors but would have a particular impact on this visitor demographic – for instance, applying double demerit points to driving offences on the beach.”
Recommendations also included the need for more toilets and infrastructure, higher fees, more sophisticated regulation of visits and more vehicle exclusion zones.
The Environment Department responded to the 2022 Earthcheck report last month.
A department spokesman said national park restrictions were part of ongoing efforts to balance conservation with public access.
“National Parks are set aside to conserve their significant natural and cultural values for current and future generations to enjoy,” the spokesman said.
“Closures of national parks, or sections of national parks, are required for various reasons, including public safety, to protect vulnerable species or to protect areas that are of cultural significance to our traditional owner communities.
“Cliffs, waterfalls, and other areas of known risks may become restricted access areas, which prevents public access and protects visitors from harm.
“Areas containing critical flora and fauna habitat may be closed seasonally or permanently to protect and aid the recovery of our threatened species.
“Areas of significant cultural importance to our traditional owner partners may be closed to protect the cultural integrity of the site.
“These may include burial sites, significant ceremonial sites that may be traditionally used as women or men-only ceremonial sites and other significant sites which may be related to creation or dreamtime stories.”
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Originally published as Where not to go: 60+ beauty spots locked away as state plans $262m to open more parks for cheap holidays
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