Residents launch blockade in popular Gold Coast hinterland spot

The State Government has been asked to stop its trucks demolishing a popular Gold Coast hinterland forest park where residents have formed a blockade.

THE State Government has been asked to stop its trucks demolishing a popular Gold Coast hinterland forest park where residents have formed a blockade.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates has sent an urgent email to Environment Minister Leanne Enoch after being contacted by residents earlier today.

It comes after The Bulletin reported this morning about 20 residents had formed a blockade to stop machinery entering the Numinbah Forest Park.

Ms Bates in her email to Ms Enoch said the Environment Department appeared to be “hell bent” on demolishing all the assets in the park.

She said she intended to table in parliament next week an online petition signed by 1500 residents wanting to retain the popular park.

“Minister you need to start listening to locals and stop taking advice from bureaucrats in Brisbane,” Ms Bates wrote.

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“History it seems is repeating itself, when previously we had over 30 homes and businesses demolished by the Labor Government in Springbrook in the failed $40M buyback program,

including homes such as Kanimbla that had been on the mountain for 70 years and held historical significance.

Machinery arrives at residents stage a blockade at Numinbah Forest Park in the Gold Coast hinterland.

“Locals were ignored then, and I call on you to immediately halt the demolition of facilities at the Numinbah Forest Park and respond to the over 1500 petitioners who have signed the

petition.”

Ms Bates had yet to receive a response by 10am as trucks began moving inside the park.

The machinery deployed by the State Government is to be used to demolish sheds inside the park which remains closed.

Blockade in the Gold Coast hinterland as residents attempt to save Numinbah Forest Park.

Protest leader Keith Douglas, who stood as a candidate in the recent Gold Coast City Council poll, said residents wanted the building heritage listed.

“It’s been here for 43 years. It was built by forestry workers. We have sheds with stone pillars. We are trying to get them heritage listed.

“There has been no government consultation. It’s an absolute travesty. If they do succeed in knocking it down, we won’t let it go.”

Residents at the protest were working with police to find a peaceful resolution.

“They’ve been extremely been good about it,” Mr Douglas said.

Machinery arrives as resident begin a blockade in the Gold Coast hinterland to protect Numinbah Forest Park.

Numinbah resident Toni McPerson has put a call out to supporters on her Facebook page.

“Please don’t let them tear down these facilities — my family has a strong connection to this place,” she told the Bulletin.

“We need the toilet and shelter that’s there. The government doesn’t want to pay for their upkeep but the community has not been consulted and they have a way to manage the place that saves the government money and keeps the community involved.

“I love this place. I’ve been there when really stressed and it’s helped me. Without the toilet there people will use the bush and it’s part of our drinking water catchment.”

Keith Douglas — there has been no government consultation. Photo: Supplied

The area was set aside as a recreational and Scenic Reserve in 1892 until it became a national park in 1981. The picnic area was developed in 1978.

The popular recreational area, about 2km south of the Numinbah township, is one of only two sites between Nerang and Murwillumbah, across the NSW border, where there are BBQ’S, picnic tables, shelters, toilet amenities and access to wonderful swimming holes in the Nerang River.