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24 October, 2022

Tourist track on sacred site could close depending on Indigenous verdict

An aerial view at sunset of the rural town of Uki, near Mt Warning in NSW, Australia

By James Harrison

The Wollumbin National Park summit trek has been closed for the past few years due to the pandemic, but the contentious site may remain closed depending on a decision by Indigenous locals.

A collection of Aboriginal groups and families have been handed responsibility by the NSW Government for the decision on the future of the once popular tourist destination in northern NSW.

The Wollumbin Consultative Group (WCG), which represents cultural stakeholders, said Wollumbin is of the “highest significance as a sacred ceremonial and cultural complex that is linked to traditional law and custom”.

“Wollumbin is interconnected to a broader cultural and spiritual landscape that includes creation, dreaming stories and men’s initiation sites of deep antiquity,” the group said in a statement, per SBS.

Discussing the issue was the NSW minister for environment, James Griffin, who said this move is the first step for joint management between custodians and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“We’re committed to putting Aboriginal land management and stewardship at the heart of our efforts to conserve our precious environment and care for Country, which is why any future decisions about Wollumbin will be guided by Aboriginal custodians,” Griffin said in a statement.

However, some have criticised the NSW Government, saying it is passing the buck on this decision.

More than 100,000 people would climb Wollumbin each year, pre-pandemic, despite concerns from traditional custodians of the land. The Government has now established a Memorandum of Understanding with the WCG to guide the future of the park.

Visitors to the National Parks represent one of the largest contributors for the region, leading locals to ask about processes of transition that would help local tourism operators cope. Among those include Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry who also accuses the Government of passing the buck.

“It’s an announcement where the minister hasn’t wanted to take responsibility for whatever happens in the future, and I don’t think that’s good form,” Cherry said.

“If a decision has been made then I think the minister should stand by that and not put it on the Aboriginal community to bear the brunt of that.”

The WCG said their main priority is protecting the site.

“We have a responsibility for caring for Country, our environment, plants, animals, water, earth, and sky.

“As the oldest living culture in the world, we are sharing our cultural knowledge and entrusting this knowledge with the broader community so that our values, tradition, and law are respected, understood and acknowledged.”

Featured Image: iStock/FiledIMAGE

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Chris Cherry James Griffin Mount Warning NSW Government Tweed Shire Council Wollumbin Consultative Group Wollumbin National Park