Locals in a small Queensland outback town have slammed council’s decision to close a popular camping site that draws hordes of tourists every year, due to concerns the area’s Aboriginal heritage is being “trampled on”.
The popular Camooweal billabong camping site on the banks of the Georgina River, located about two hours west of Mt Isa close to the Northern Territory border, is a popular destination during the dry season from May to September.
But last week, Mt Isa City Council announced that public access to the area, including the banks of the Georgina River and Lakes Francis and Canellan, would be closed for six months — including for the rest of the 2023 tourist season.
The site area has been managed by the Myuma Group through a sublease with the council since 2021. Myuma represents the traditional owners of the upper Georgina River region.
Mt Isa Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick told ABC Radio on Monday both council and Myuma wanted to protect the area’s environment and cultural heritage.
“We’ve been trying to work through that and while it’s going well, at the same time the area’s been quite trampled on, if you like, so we need to recognise that as well,” he said.
In its statement last week, the council said the decision to close the sites for camping was “to protect cultural heritage and was made following discussions held between Mount Isa City Council and representatives of the sites’ lessees and native title claimant holders”.
“Public access to the sites will remain open to all permanent Camooweal residents for the purpose of fishing and water activities, and for people who hold the appropriate permits under the Stock Route Management Act 2002,” council said.
“Appropriate signage will be installed at the entrances of the three sites — the Barkly Highway, Urandangi Road and Highlands Plains Road — advising of the temporary public access closure, with the lessees to install fencing and gates at the entrances.
“Other than rubbish bins, there are no other amenities in the camping areas. Council collects rubbish from the Georgina River site each week.”
In a statement, Mt Isa Mayor Danielle Slade said council appreciated the sites are popular with campers every tourist season, but the temporary closure was important in order for the cultural heritage sites to be assessed and processes put in place for their preservation.
“Council apologises for the inconvenience the temporary public access closure may cause and thanks people for their patience and understanding while this matter is assessed,” she said.
“Hopefully the temporary closure will have a positive effect on businesses in Camooweal, with campers and caravanners instead staying in the town’s caravan park.”
Yahoo News reports the decision has rocked the small town of just 236 residents, with local businesses fearing tourists will bypass Camooweal entirely.
“If they close it, yeah it’s going to affect us,” Camooweal Roadhouse manager Sandeep Kumar told the outlet on Monday.
Mr Kumar told Yahoo News he often sees travellers who come back year after year to stay at the camping grounds.
“They’re regularly coming here in the store and they’re buying fuel and groceries and stuff, so if that happens, nobody is going to stay here, you know,” he said. “That’s the favourite spot to stop here.”
One reader wrote, “Shows how much the Mayor knows of Camooweal. Absolutely zilch … If the river is not available to tourists — this town will be a ghost town. Well done Mount Isa City Council. Don’t bother funding the Drovers Festival — the attendees will have nowhere to stay. Why would you do this at the start of a tourist season? Why do it at all?”
Another said, “Now watch the town die! Who’s going to bother stopping when they can’t camp?”
Some locals have speculated similar closures will occur around the country with the introduction of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
In April, a popular Victorian campsite was also closed over Aboriginal heritage concerns.
Bear Gully Campground, located within the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park south of Melbourne, was closed by the state government’s peak body for the management of National Parks, Parks Victoria.
The sudden move came after advice that camping and recreational activities within the park may have impacted an Aboriginal place and its artefacts.
Overlooking Wilsons Promontory, the Bear Gully camping area is renowned for its unpatrolled surf beach suitable for “rockpooling, fishing, surfing and coastal walks”, according to the Parks Victoria website.
A date of May 7 was originally set for reopening, but the closure was later extended indefinitely.
“Parks Victoria is working with First Peoples — State Relations to assess potential impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage at Bear Gully Campground,” a spokesperson said in April.
“We are taking a precautionary approach to limit harm to these values, to fulfil our obligations under the Parks Victoria Act 2018 and Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. We thank visitors and the community for their patience and compliance with the closure while we assess.”
That came after a huge stretch of land in Victoria along the Great Ocean Road and up to Ararat was formally recognised as Aboriginal land in March.
The Federal Court granted the Eastern Marr people native title over the nearly 8600 square kilometre area.
“It’s a recognition of rights that provides a platform for all things — from economic development to meaningful recognition, so we can ensure that we have the self-determination to secure our rightful place in the future,” Jodie Sizer told the ABC at the time.
frank.chung@news.com.au