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Showing posts from February, 2021

Mt Warning - Peach's Australia December 1975

"Greetings from the Morning of Australia " The final episode of Peach's Australia in 1975 was titled " The Morning of Australia ". The summit and glorious views from and to Mt Warning were featured. In the opening moments, Bill is seen walking up the last few steps of the track onto a grassy knoll on the summit on what must have been a very quiet day (or perhaps there was heavy use of hairspray!). There are no lookouts as yet and the vegetation is quite sparse in contrast to the current state (see below) where low trees have taken over.  Peach's Australia Broadcast December 9, 1975 Since 1975 the summit has been visited by about 3-4 million visitors. The footage and comparison to the current state of the track demonstrates how little environmental impact those visitors have had. In fact it looks lusher now than it did nearly half a century ago.  The short clip above from the episode obtained from the ABC is published under fair dealing provisions of the cop...

ABC reporting misrepresents facts about Mt Warning Closure

Cross posted from ABC NEWS WATCH  UPDATE SBS REPORT IS WORSE - see below UPDATE 2 ABC error in naming Mt Warning - seel below I  made a press announcement  about the release of documents obtained through FOI/GIPA from the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the closure of the Mt Warning/Wollumbin National Park and its famous summit walk. The documents were posted to my  Right to Climb blog.   On 17 February I was interviewed by ABC North Coast Radio's Bruce MacKenzie about the documents.  I felt it was a good interview I got to talk about the main findings of the release that revealed the following: • A "Final Wollumbin Closure Event" planned for 25 November 2022 and show NPWS have NO intention of re-opening the park to the public before that time. It’s clear the permanent closure has been planned for many years. • Public information released about the safety issues on the Mountain by National Parks has a critical mistake. The Service have claimed...

Mt Warning: Recent interviews and articles

Some recent appearances in the media: The Echo 16 February 2021 https://www.echo.net.au/2021/02/geologist-says-mt-warning-is-safe-to-climb/ The Echo 18 February 2021 https://www.echo.net.au/2021/02/mt-warning-ban/ Courier Mail 16 February 2021 https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mt-warning-walking-track-to-be-closed-permanently-under-secret-plans/news-story/3e47b1ee47861c046367d1c8422562db Channel 7 Gold Coast 17 February 2021. The interview was about 10 minutes long but cut down to a few seconds. Sorry the sound is slightly out of sync. ABC North Coast Radio Breakfast Show 18 February 2021. The interview got truncated half way through. We spoke further about the wonderful comments about the summit by Ngaraakwal elder and Mount Warning custodian Marlene Boyd who stated before she died in 2007:   "I do not oppose the public climbing of Mt Warning - how can the public experience the spiritual significance of this land if they do not climb the summit and witness creati...

Mt Warning Official complaint and 10 point plan

The letter below sent to the Premier, Minister and two NPWS directors.  Dear Premier, Minister, NPWS Northern Region Directors, Cc various media groups.  This is a formal complaint about NPWS management of Wollumbin National Park in northern NSW. Documents obtained through GIPA/FOI reveal serious deficiencies in NPWS management of the park over many many years. It is clear from the documents that NPWS have misled the public and the Minister about safety issues and the true nature of indigenous opinions in the Park, and have actively “demarketed” the park for many years. NPWS have breached the public's trust and should be held to account. The documents reveal the following information: • A "Final Wollumbin Closure Event" is planned by NPWS for 25 November 2022. Documents show NPWS have NO intention of re-opening the park to the public before that time. It’s clear the permanent closure has been planned for many years, despite NPWS indicating a review will be ...

FOI BOMBSHELL: PERMANENT BAN ON MT WARNING 25 NOVEMBER 2022

I have had a batch of documents released via FOI/GIPA (see links below). Despite heavy-handed redactions, there are some incredible revelations! It is hard to believe what has been going on behind NPWS' locked doors. Mt Warning/Wollumbin National Park is one of our Nation's true natural jewels and it is being treated as a political football by bureaucrats and Aboriginal groups.   The documents show NPWS has misled the minister and public over safety risks in the park and the diversity of Aboriginal views about the summit walk. NPWS have indicated the closure would be reviewed in May, but if NPWS have their way the Park will NEVER open to the public again. Image source Key Revelations: "Final Wollumbin Closure Event" is planned for 25 November 2022 A "deconstruction plan" points to removal of summit lookouts to be completed by 30 June 2022 NPWS have NO intention of re-opening the park to the public. The closure affects the entire park - the public will be ba...

Mt Warning: Dear Premier...

Copy of letter sent to Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian Premier of NSW Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001   RE: BAN ON MT WARNING SUMMIT WALK AND NATIONAL PARK Dear Premier, I draw your attention to the imminent ban on the Mt Warning Summit Walk and closure of the Wollumbin National Park in northern NSW by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The ban is not justified by the available evidence and NPWS have mislead the Government on issues of safety and Aboriginal views about the climb for decades. The summit trail is the main feature in the park and was built by volunteers in 1909. It is about 4.4km long. The first 4km are a gentle walk on a well graded track, the last several 100m involve a rock scramble that NPWS described in 1998 as “a fantastic walk” with “dazzling views”. In 1929 the area was listed as a National Park. Speaking at the opening ceremony at the summit local Alderman A. B. Black dedicated the park to the people ...