Traditional owners plead with government to close hot spot to tourism operators

Another Australian tourist spot is on the chopping block as calls intensify from traditional owners to enforce restrictions.

Experiencing Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley could soon change. Picture: Journey Beyond

Boats could be banned from travelling through one of Australia’s most iconic tourist offerings as calls intensify from the area’s traditional owners.

The Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation has proposed that the Horizontal Falls in Western Australia’s Kimberley Region be shut off entirely from all motorised vessels, citing concerns for its cultural sanctity.

The area has become hugely popular for local, domestic and international tourists, with several businesses operating power boat tours throughout the waterway.

Continuing to do so is feared to be putting strain on the area, traditionally called Garaan-ngaddim, which DAC said was “mamaa, a powerful, sacred place”.

“Our people lived there all year round, and we still feel their presence. It is a quiet, calm place. But it can be dangerous. You don’t rush through it. We’ve seen how Country responds when people don’t respect its power. We ask visitors to be quiet at Garaan-ngaddim, respect our cultural obligations to care for Country and culture, and keep you safe,” the corporation said in a statement.

Boats were banned from passing through the narrow gap last year. Picture: Journey Beyond

A tour boat seen at Horizontal Falls in 2021. Picture: Victoria Nielsen/news.com.au

“This is about protecting our Country, culture and heritage for the future. Our Vision is to ensure that our language, law, culture and heritage are not lost, and passed down to the next generation.”

The WA government has made it clear there would be no further restrictions on businesses for the 2024 season after rules were introduced this year closing the narrow gap to all vessels and banning new operators from entering the market.

The decision to keep existing rules in place for 2024 came after a 12-month consultation process involving traditional owners, tour operators, DAC, DBCA and Tourism WA, which was triggered by an incident at the falls in May 2022.

DAC acknowledged tour operators’ desire to continue operating in the region, but said it was committed to developing ways they could do so in culturally appropriate ways.

“We are committed to continuing to work closely with the tourism industry and State Government on a multi-year staged closure that incorporates feedback and provides clear time frames to account for forward bookings and enable businesses to plan for change,” it said.

Traditional owners have called on boats to be permanently banned. Picture: Victoria Nielsen/news.com.au

A WA government spokesperson conceded the site had “significant economic, cultural and social value to the people of Western Australia” but that it wanted to see its “economic benefits” continue to flow.

“It’s an iconic tourism experience in Australia’s North West that creates local jobs, attracts visitors from around the world, and generates visitor spend in local communities,” the spokesperson told news.com.au.

“We will work with both the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation and the tourism industry to resolve this issue.”

The intensified calls come as bans were introduced at other Australian tourist sites including Mt Warning in the Wollumbin National Park in northern NSW, which has been closed to hikers.

In Victoria, climbers have been banned from rock climbing in the Grampians National Park under cultural heritage laws, with a man this month being threatened with a $346,000 fine.

The ban, to protect Indigenous heritage in the area, was introduced in 2019.