QPWS rangers investigate Glass House Mountains’ Mt Beerwah vandalism

A popular Glass House Mountains peak has closed so cultural healing can take place following a “deliberate and destructive” act of vandalism. See the photos.

Mt Beerwah has been closed for cultural healing, after park rangers expressed outrage over an “appalling” carving of a religious message into the Sunshine Coast hinterland mountain.

Last week, park rangers were on the hunt for environmental vandals who gouged “Jesus saves” into the base of the popular peak in the Glass House Mountains National Park.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service senior ranger Nat Smith said the vandalism on the section of rock occurred on May 20 or 21.

The Mt Beerwah section of the national park is now closed, according to the Queensland Parks website.

The website stated the closure would allow for cultural healing and reparations following the vandalism as Mt Beerwah was of high cultural significance to the Jinibara people, the traditional owners of the land.

The closure would be in place until further notice and, according to the website, would stay in place until July 9.

Last week, Mr Smith said rangers believed the act of vandalism was done at night.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have revealed an act of environmental vandalism at Mt Beerwah. Photo: QPWS

“A power tool appears to have been used to cut graffiti into the rock near the base of the summit route,” Mr Smith said.

“Regardless of what it says, the graffiti is a terrible act.

“It looks clumsy and awful, and rangers and the community take a zero-tolerance approach to offences like this in our national parks.”

The vandalism reads “Jesus saves, just ask him”, and was created by putting deep gouges in the rock.

Deep gouges have been carved into rock at the base of Mt Beerwah. Photo: QPWS

“The mountain is an iconic feature of the Sunshine Coast and extremely important to the Jinibara People, the local traditional owners, and to the people of Queensland,” Mr Smith said.

“To have it defaced like this is appalling and QPWS will work with the Jinibara People to minimise the long-term visual damage.”

Mr Smith said the QPWS wanted public assistance in identifying those involved.

“This vandalism is deliberate and destructive, and someone in the community will know who did it,” he said.

Ranger Nat Smith says the department will work with the local traditional owners, the Jinibara people, to minimise the long-term visual damage. Photo: QPWS

The park ranger said the act was an offence under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003, with penalties of more than $143,000 for individuals.

Mr Smith it was also an offence under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and carried a maximum penalty of more than $431,000 or two years’ imprisonment.

“In addition, the person or persons responsible could be liable for the cost of rehabilitating the site, which may cost tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Mr Smith said anyone with information should contact the department.

The latest act comes after calls to close the mountain to climbers and hikers began last month following a spate of tragic incidents including the death of Currimundi woman Breanna Foley.

Jinibara culture man BJ Murphy was calling in April for the Mt Beerwah summit climb to permanently close and he started a protest at the mountain base.

Originally published as QPWS rangers investigate Glass House Mountains’ Mt Beerwah vandalism