QLD NATIONAL PARKS FOI RELEASE: PUBLIC ACCESS AT BEERWAH AND TIBROGARGAN SUMMITS
Key Facts
• Despite recent assurances the Department still appears to be working towards closure of Glass House Mountain Summits including Mt Beerwah, Mt Tibrogargan, Mt Coochin and Mt Coolum, (I’ll provide evidence from the documents that support this in a subsequent post).
• Risk to public from Landslides at Beerwah and Tibrogargan remains in tolerable range according to geotechnical advice.
• It took over 12 months to process this FOI request – 12 time extension requests were made by the Department.
• No documents were released with correspondence from aboriginal groups, contrary to the request.
• 610 pages released (with much duplication).
• Cost was $1366.70.
• Over 3000 emails from “Office of the Deputy Director-General, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships’ excluded from the request, exempted under s41 of the QLD Right to Information Act (2009).
• Documents as 6 PDF files may be accessed from DETSI disclosure log (search on 23-254 – 19 January 2024)
• Or more easily from: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kf9luatnn28nttpx4unbk/APKZJVgjOvO4bwu9ag4c-7o?rlkey=t9zfzo44jp0131gtf8gvn1d7u&st=zngeu9ly&dl=0
Background
On 26 July 2023 I submitted a FOI request to the QLD Department of Environment and Science for “Documents, reports and correspondence relating to the closure of Mt Beerwah, Mount Tibrogargan and Mt Coonowrin. Time Period: January 2018 to present.”
The department suggested changing the wording to the following:
“All documents containing consideration by the Government to permanently close any of the Glasshouse Mountains to preserve the cultural heritage of First Nations peoples. Time Period: 1 January 2015 to 27 July 2023.”
I was informed in a decision letter dated 31 August 2023 that NO such documents existed!
I subsequently asked if “Beerwah” and “Tibrogargan” were used as search terms and was informed they were not. I requested a review from the QLD Information Commissioner and was told a new request, in line with my original wording, specifically mentioning the names of mountains, would be required along with a new application fee ($55.75).
From QLD Office of Information Commissioner dated 19 January 2024:
“In processing a valid application under the RTI Act, an agency must take all reasonable steps to locate the documents requested.I consider these searches are specific, targeted, and appropriate given the scope of your application, particularly as your application refers to the ‘Glasshouse Mountains’ rather than specific mountains. As explained by the Department in correspondence to you after the decision notice was issued, if you would like to request access to documents about closure of any of the specific mountains such as Beerwah or Tibrogargan, you need to make a fresh application to the Department.”
On 19 January 2024 I made a fresh application under the following terms, in line with my original request:
“Seeking documents related to the closure (permanent or temporary) of Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan. This includes all documents containing consideration by the Government and department to permanently or temporarily close Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan at the request of First Nations peoples. The time period / date range the applicant would like to search within: 1 January 2015 to 19 January 2024.”
On discussion with the FOI officer this was amended as follows:
“All documents related to the temporary and/or permanent closure of Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan; including all documents relating to representations received from First Nations peoples, and any consideration by the department of these representations. Time period: 1 January 2015 to 19 January 2024."
On 20 March 2024 I was informed 610 pages were identified that met the application and received a cost estimate of $1366.75 to cover processing, search and retrieval, copying, and activities related to decision making.
On 13 June 2024 I was informed the “Office of the Deputy Director-General, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships” has located a further 3000 Deputy Director-General emails responsive to the scope of your application. Presuming that these emails are likely to be a minimum each of 1-4 pages in length, as well as include attachments; I infer that a further 5,000-7,000 pages of documents are likely to be held in response to the scope of your application.”
I was told that if I requested these additional documents the Department would refuse to deal with the entirety of my application under s41 of the QLD Right to Information Act (2009). While these documents likely contain much information the public have a right to inspect, I reluctantly agreed they be excluded from this request.
Following monthly emails from the Department for time extensions (12 in total) I was informed a decision had been made to release the 610 pages on 5 February 2025, 383 days after my submission, and 560 days following my first FOI submission. I received a link to the documents yesterday (on 21 February 2025).
Documents released
The bulk of the documents released are already in the public domain and include numerous media releases related to the Department’s response to vandalism at Mt Beerwah in May 2023, and other media related to temporary closures. Also included are multiple copies of landslide risk assessments conducted at Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan by geotechnical consultants. A number of emails point to a continued push within the Department to restrict access to Glass House Mountain summits and these will be subject to a subsequent post.
Contents of files released are summarised below. The files are highly disorganised and do not follow a date order:
File A - 105 pages
• Media Release – 31 October 2023 Temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to fires and weather conditions
• Media Release – 29 May 2023 Temporary Closure Mt Beerwah – in response to vandalism in May 2023
• Media Release – 12 April 2023 – Glass House Mountains summit access – consideration not to climb summits due to aboriginal beliefs
• 11 April 2023 – email ABC sunshine coast requesting information about Mt Beerwah closure
• 30 May 2023 - email from TO group re Mt Beerwah closure – redacted
• 26 May 2023 – emails related to vandalism Mt Beerwah and summit closure
• 15 June 2023 – emails related to vandalism Mt Beerwah and summit closure includes Ministerial Briefing notes
• 29 May 2023 – duplicate of Media Release
• 22-26 May 2023 – emails from DES to Jinbara Aboriginal Corporation related to Mt Beerwah Closure. Replies from Jinbara not provided.
• 11 April 2023 – reply to media inquiry related to potential closure of Mt Beerwah summit.
• Media Response 11 April 2023 – reply to media inquiry re Mt Beerwah Summit
• Media Release – 3 July 2023 – Naidoc week – Department requests people do not climb GHM summits during Naidoc week.
• 4 August 2023 – email about reopening Mt Beerwah
• Photos of damage at Mt Beerwah
• 1 November 2022 – Talking Points/emails - temporary closure of Mt Beerwah due to precarious boulder
• 31 October 2023 – temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to high fire danger weather
• 23-27 May 2023 – emails related to Mt Beerwah Vandalism – duplicates of briefing notes
• 5 January 2024 – Risk assessment Mt Beerwah by EDG consulting report.
• 4 August 2023 email – notes on repair of graffiti site Mt Beerwah with photos
• 3 July 2023 – email – media release Tibrogargan- Naidoc week
• 22-26 May 2023 – emails related to vandalism Mt Beerwah
• 11 July 2023 emails related to proposed “Mt Beerwah Freedom climb”
• Media release 10 August 2023 – Mt Beerwah Temporary closure ended
• 24-25 May 2023 – emails - draft Media Release related to Mt Beerwah Vandalism
• 11 August 2023 – emails related to media enquires Mt Beerwah reopening
• 24 April 2023 emails – response to NITV media inquiries closure of Mt Beerwah
• 6 July 2023 emails and Media Release related to climber fall on Mt Beerwah
• 11 July 2023 emails and Media response related to “Freedom climb”
• 9-11 April 2023 emails related to Jinbarra setting up camp in Mt Beerwah carpark
• 29 May 2023 emails related to Mt Beerwah closure signs
• 14 November 2023 – emails related to media enquires Mt Beerwah closure
• 31 October 2023 – emails related to temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to fire weather.
File B - 5 pages
• 23 October 2018 letter to unknown recipient about access to Glass House mountains
• 24 September 2018 – Ministerial briefing note related to Labor’s plans to close access to the Glasshouse Mountains in particular Mt Tibrogargan.
• 4 July 2023 – letter to unknown recipient related to closure of Mt Beerwah
• 29 June 2023 – email related to my complaint re closure GHM, and copy of my complaint.
File C - 5 pages
• 23 September 2023 – Department response to complaint regarding inconsistent signage at Mt Beerwah
• 9 August 2023 – emails related to Save Our Summits request to stage event at Mt Beerwah
File D – 222 pages
• 3 September 2018 Media Response related to Glass House Mountains track and safety
• Draft media release – date unknown Glass House climbing and running routes open
• Draft media release – date unknown – Tibrogargan summit temporary close due to rockfall.
• 29 September 2016 - Report – Assessment of Mount Tibrogargan Summit Access track by EDG Consulting
• 22 January 2016 emails related to Beerwah Trails and day use area upgrade
• Beerwah Trails and day use are upgrade project brief dated 22/1/2016
• 18 September 2015 email related to Mt Beerwah Reopening with draft media release
• 18 March 2014 report Mt Tibrogargan summit access route – slope Risk assessment Coffey Report
• 4 February 2016 emails and draft media release - Glass House climbing and running routes open
• 1 September 2016 emails related to “danger Signs” Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan
• 4 October 2016 Emails related to Geotech report Mt Tibrogargan
• 29 September 2026 - Report – Assessment of Mount Tibrogargan Summit Access track by EDG Consulting
• 6 June 2016 emails Mt Beerwah closure info comments on Coffey Geotech report
• 5 March 2014 report Mt Beerwah summit access route – Slope Risk assessment Coffey Report
• 13 April 2015 email about concerns boulder cluster at Mt Tibrogargan
• 18 March 2014 report Mt Tibrogargan summit access route – slope Risk assessment Coffey Report (Duplicate copy)
• 5 March 2014 report Mt Beerwah summit access route – slope Risk assessment Coffey Report (Duplicate copy)
• 21 October 2015 email – draft Mt Beerwah opening media release
• 29 July 2016 – Park alert Mt Tibrogargan temporary closed
• Production Brief for signs Mt Tibrogargan/Mt Beerwah
• 10-11 September 2019 emails regarding media response request for ranger interview following rescues
• 3 September 2018 – email and media response for “Tibro Incident”
• 15 February - 15 March 2017 emails – Mt Beerwah/ Mt Tibrogargan closure plans (temporary closures- signage)
• 15 December 2015 – emails related to cultural signage, draft media release - Glass House climbing and running routes open
• 15 March 2019 – emails related to rock fall risk zones
• 17-18 September 2020 emails related to media NITV inquiry Glass house mtns climbing. With draft media statement
• 29 July 2016 email Parks digital re Facebook posts related to temporary closures Mt Beerwah/Mt Tibrogargan
• Triggers for closure table Sunshine coast area
File E - 266 pages
• 8 August 2023 – email seeking Jinbara views on short-term management of visitors to Beerwah – no response provided
• 30/11/2021 – email rainfall trigger for closure Mt Beerwah Walking track
• 10 April 2020 – email Covid 19 Glass House closure with photos of fencing installed
• 11 August 2023 – email response to inquiry about legislation
• 24 June 2021 – email related to temporary closure Mt Tibrogargan photos of signs
• 29 May 2023 Media release Temporary closure Mt Beerwah following vandalism – duplicate.
• 11 August 2023 email re Mt Beerwah temporary closure ended and media release – duplicate
• 11 July 2023 email related to “freedom climb” duplicate
• 28 June 2023 email – response to media inquiry –ABC
• 31 October 2023 Media release – temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to fire weather – duplicate
• 29 September 2016 - Report – Assessment of Mount Tibrogargan Summit Access track by EDG Consulting - duplicate
• 25 March 2015 - emails re rain fall data Beerburrum and rock fall events
• 14 June 2016 - email temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to heavy rain
• 22-29 May 2023 – email temporary closure due to hazard reduction burn
• 9-10 May 2022 – email – temporary park closures due to weather
• 14 February 2020 – email – temporary closure Mt Beerwah
• 5 July 2023 – email Glass House mtn tracks
• 26 May 2023 – email Mt Beerwah Temporary closure
• 14 July 2017 email Mt Tibrogargan – concerns raised about loose rock
• 15 July 2022 email – permission to extend temporary closure to allow for rockfall inspection’
• 5-8 July 2022 – email chain – RD BN for review GHM precinct management –“essentially aiming to close Mt Beerwah, likely close Coochin and implement seasonal closures across other peaks.”
• 29 March 2017 – email – Mt Beerwah closure triggers – rainfall related
• 13 June 2023 – email Mt Beerwah closure – related to vandalism event
• 18 August 2022 – email – Mt Beerwah rock fall inspection
• 20 June 2023 email – Mt Tibrogargan park alerts table
• 18 July 2022 – email re park alert following rockfall event
• 13 June 2016 – email – Mt Beerwah temporary closure continues
• 8 August 2023 – email – response to reopening inquiry Mt Beerwah
• 1-2 November 2022 –email related to media story ABC sunshine coast
• 26 May 2023 email related to Mt Beerwah Vandalism draft media statement
• 11 April 2023 email – response to media interview request re Beerwaj Vandalism
• 15 February - 15 March 2017 – emails – Mt Beerwah/ Mt Tibrogargan closure plans (temporary closures- signage) duplicate
• Mt Beerwah Closure plan – for temporary closures – sign placement
• Mt Tibrogargan Closure plan – for temporary closures – sign placement
• 4 July 2023 – email -response to media inquiry Mt Beerwah closure Sunshine Coast Daily with media response
• 26 31 October 2022 email - Mt Beerwah quotes for scaling work tender evaluation
• 18 July 2023 email – Response to public inquiry re Mt Beerwah Sacred site – question is redacted
• 27 June 2023 – email – response to media inquiry Sunshine coast news with media release
• 26 May 2023 Media Release Shocking Beerwah vandalism under investigation
• 14 November 2023 email response to media inquiry closure due to fire weather
• 20 February 2017 –email – temporary road closure Mt Beerburrum – road grading
• 22 May 2023 email – smoke alert Mt Tibrogargan – planned burn with community announcement
• 8-11 February 2022 email – Mt Beerwah road works
• 31 October 2023 email – temporary closure Mt Beerwah due to fire weather
• 22 June 2021 email – unstable rock Mt Tbrogargan
• 23 March 2022 email - photos of open signs at Tibro – Draft Glass House Mountains Visitor strategy document – move carparks further away from peaks to reduce summit access.
• 5 January 2023 email – updated closure triggers Beerwah and Tibrogargan
• 28 October 2016 Assessment of Mount Tibrogargan Summit Access track by EDG Consulting
• 6 July 2022 Mt Beerwah Summit Route Walking Track Risk Assessment by EDG Consulting
• 28 June 2021 Mt Tibrogargan Walking Track Assessment by EDG Consulting
File F – 3 pages
• 22 May 2023 email – draft media statement Mt Beerwah vandalism
• 27 June 2023 email – response to inquiry from climbing group re progress of temporary closure
Comments
Post a Comment