Security at Wollumbin base

By Jonathon Howard

PRIVATE SECURITY are now stationed at the foot of the Wollumbin (Mt Warning) Summit Track to prevent walkers from unlawfully climbing the closed track.

A spokesperson for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) told The Weekly that it was forced to take the unusual approach of employing security to ensure visitors adhere to the signage and do not climb to the summit.

News of security manning the track comes as Wollumbin National Park reopened for visitors — excluding the Summit Track — on Saturday, July 1.

The NPWS spokesperson said there are no other parks in NSW that require security to prevent people from climbing and they are committed to keeping security onsite to ensure everyone plays by the rules.

“The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) stationed security at the entrance of the national park on April 10, 2023, in response to an increase in people trying to unlawfully enter the park, despite the park closure and risks to public safety,” the spokesperson said.

“It is disappointing that this measure was required in response to the small percentage of visitors who were acting unlawfully, putting their own and others’ safety at risk.

“Following the reopening of parts of Wollumbin National Park on July 1, security will remain onsite to maintain the closure of the Summit Track and Aboriginal Place.”

NPWS said the summit of Wollumbin, a declared Aboriginal Place since 2014, is currently closed to respect the wishes of the Wollumbin Consultative Group (WCG).

“Which represents a range of Aboriginal groups and families, including men and women with a connection to the site,” the NPWS spokesperson said.

“The NSW Government announced in October 2022 that it will enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the WCG, which will provide a framework for Aboriginal decision-making about the national park, as a first step to joint management.”

Several social media groups have sprung up since the mountain’s Summit Track was closed.

A protest took place at the foot of the mountain earlier this year and it is believed to have been part of the motivation behind the employment of security at the site.

Although a figure of the costs of employing the security team were not supplied to The Weekly, other media outlets are reporting costs of around $7,000 per week for the security.