Around 100 campaigners backing the reopening of Mt Warning/Wollumbin in the NSW Tweed plan on climbing the mountain in protest – with no fear of authorities – following a fiery Australia Day rally last week, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The once-popular trail up Mt Warning, now known as Wollumbin, was closed in 2020 during Covid and has remained shut due to its cultural significance to Indigenous Australians.
In 2022, the NSW Department of National Parks recommended handing over management of the site on the NSW Tweed Coast to the small Wollumbin Consultative Group who support a ban on visitors to the popular hiking spot.
On its website Parks NSW says: 'Wollumbin (Mount Warning) summit track and Aboriginal Place remains closed. Decisions about the future of the summit track will be made by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in accordance with the wishes of Aboriginal custodians."
On the Save Our Summits Facebook page, created by some of the protesters it states the group will petition for:
- Continued, ongoing and permanent access to mountain summits throughout Australia.
- Equality for all Australians, with equal consideration of our views and needs.
- Evidence of safety concerns so we can assess their validity and input accordingly.
- Consultation and input on ecological issues.
Where do you stand?
If you want to know more about Wollumbin National Park's cultural significance click here. If you want to know about the Save Our Summit group click here.