News
22 July, 2024
Vandals graffiti Glasshouse mountain
VANDALS have graffitied and damaged a popular mountain in the Glasshouse Mountains, Mount Ngungun, on July 4, leaving rangers and the Kabi Kabi people devastated.
VANDALS have graffitied and damaged a popular mountain in the Glasshouse Mountains, Mount Ngungun, on July 4, leaving rangers and the Kabi Kabi people devastated.
Some of the vandalism included carving into the rock and drawing colourful flowers.
Ranger in charge, James Plant, said this behaviour is not acceptable.
“It is extremely disappointing to see selfish people cause this type of damage to the mountain,” he said.
“Not only is this type of vandalism extremely disrespectful, but it looks terrible and is difficult or sometimes impossible to remove.
“This means that every person who graffities this beautiful area is contributing to irreversible changes that undermine the park’s cultural and environmental values.”
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) takes vandalism in protected areas extremely seriously. Any person caught interfering with anything within the national park can face up to two years’ imprisonment or be fined up to $483,900.
Not only is defacing Glass House Mountains National Park illegal, but it can cause irreversible damage to the environment and is disrespectful to the Kabi Kabi people, who have a strong connection to the area. Save Our Summits co-founder, Craig Evans, said he does not understand why anyone would want to vandalise any of the Glasshouse Mountains.
“I am absolutely disgusted that anybody would deface natural places like this. I don’t know what the mentality is of people who feel the need to put their stamp on places of nature, and it’s detrimental to everybody,” he said.
“It’s disrespectful to the First Nations people and traditional custodians, and it’s detrimental to our cause. It plays into the agenda of people who are pushing to get the mountains closed for climbing.”
This isn’t the first time the Glasshouse Mountains has been victim to destructive vandalism. Just over a year ago on May 20/21, Mount Beerwah was vandalised by carving into the rock with a power tool.
The carvings also promoted a religious agenda, which offended the traditional custodians of the land.
“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,” senior ranger Nat Smith said at the time.
“The mountain is an iconic feature of the Sunshine Coast and extremely important to the local Traditional Owners, and to the people of Queensland.
“To have it defaced like this is appalling, and QPWS will work to minimise the long-term visual damage.”
QPWS rangers will work with volunteers from the Friends of Parks group to remove the graffiti.
Local custodians and the Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for women’s business were contacted for comment.
kirra@gcnews.com.au
