By Kirra Livingstone
A ‘Save our Summit’ event at Mt Beerwah this Saturday aims to act as a preemptive counter argument to any push to permanently close the heritage-listed peak.
The SOS event comes a day after the reopening of the peak following its closure last month for cultural healing after a vandalism attack.
Event organiser Ben Heaton said the aim of the day was to show that the mountain was a valuable and loved peak for many people.
“There’s a lot of calls from the native title holders to close the summit trail, and we live our recreational lives on this base and on our way to the summit in some degree, so for us its really important for us to keep that open,” he said.
“This counter argument lets people know that it is important for other people to be able to climb the mountains. We get a lot out of it and if you don’t speak up and you don’t get heard, then you lose those opportunities and that access.”
SOS organisers said they were petitioning for: “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; and protection of our National Parks from the small minority of people who litter and/or vandalise these places of such natural beauty.”
Following the reopening, Mr Heaton said the event would also serve as a celebration.
“We will be having a BBQ, and just talking to everyone about the processes we’ve been through, and where we see this going in the future,” he said.
Passionate climber, Jade King, said she welcomed temporary closures to allow for ecological repair, but thoughts of a permanent ban was not appropriate.
“Why climbers are coming together now is that there is considerable talk about Mt Beerwah closing permanently, it would be devastating if we got stopped from climbing our beautiful Glass House Mountains.
“A lot of climbers use the mountains as a place for healing, whether it be a fitness challenge for them or to help overcome mental health issues, personally it has made me more confident.”
High profile closures including Wollumbin (Mt Warning) in 2022, as well as the permanent closure of Uluru in 2019 and some parts of the Grampians, have hikers concerned about which peaks could be next to close.
“There are obviously a lot of perspectives on this but it would be really unfortunate if we closed the mountain because of one group of people that prevent everyone and that goes in so many different directions,” Jade said.
“I work with a number of Indigenous leaders around the coast, and I respect and love their culture, but under my own culture and my own beliefs I wouldn’t expect other people to change their ways for my beliefs.”
Jinibara man, BJ Murphy, has been vocal in his preference to close Mt Beerwah, saying at a peaceful protest earlier this year that the peak “is seen as a grandmother and ancestral spirit for us”.
“I encourage people to connect with country, just be mindful and consider the request of local custodians in honouring their significant and sacred sites. Respect culture and country and tread lightly.”.
He said this week that if the mountain were closed permanently, compromises could be offered to hikers.
“If the summit was closed permanently, the parks department would put another trail in on the west side of the base, but the trail would have to cause minimal disruption,” he said.
Jade said the compromise for a base trail was too restrictive.