Closure of Purlingbrook Falls & Warrie Circuit

[icanfly]

Wondering if anyone has any info. The Purlingbrook falls circuit has been partly closed for at least a year now (or more) so that you cannot access the base of the falls and walk behind it.

Also it seems the Warrie circuit is completely closed I am not sure for how long.

Anyhoo I rang up the National parks service today to sort of complain and to find out when they think at least the Purlingbrook circuit would be fixed. I find it quite bad how long it has been closed and also that is driving away tourists. But when I rang them they have no further information other than that they will get an update again on January 31 as to the status of the walks. And I asked well who can I talk to who knows what is going, why it's taking so long etc and she said there is no one. The ranger is the only one who can comment on the parks and he is only available in emergencies only

Does anyone know who I might be able to talk to to find out what is going on about these walks or does anyone have any information about the status of the walks when they might be open again.

I did recently visit Purlingbrook and I can say access to the waterfall was still possible by people climbing over the barricade and taking their own risk because you can see its still quite accessible to get to the waterfall though risky and surely not having it fixed for so long is driving tourists and the likes to take their own chances and ignore the barricades but leading to the chance of accidents happening.

I am not sure why the entire path from the opposite side of the waterfall is closed in the first place. The landslide prone area only seems to be affected before reaching the waterfall on the opposite path. It seems to me if you were to take the other path you could still access the waterfall but not go further. I do not know why a barricade was not simply placed on two points between the affected area so you could still walk to the waterfall from the other direction but be off limits to go any further. My guess is because you would have to go through the closed area to get to the Warringa Pool and if you come the other way you would not be able to get to it. So only give people the option of viewing the waterfall only and being able to go to the warringa pool path..

[tomh]

Back in April 2013 a bushwalking friend spoke to a Lamington ranger and I received the following update:

Warrie Circuit: may not be opened for years - major damage to track & cliff sections and would require between $500k to $1m to be repaired

Purling Brook: may never be re-opened. No one has ever seen the levels of damage on this track before and would need over $1m to repair.

[icanfly]

Thanks for that very unfortunate news. I might make some inquiries to council and tourist board. That's a major setback for tourism. When I was up there I was speaking to the owner of the convenience store who is trying to obtain a liquor licence. Said some councillor tried to make a lot of the area reserved so no one can see it. Such a shame. I bet the b&b's up there are feeling the pinch. Something needs to be done about this its a major drawcard for gold coast. I only just found out about the warrie circuit always wanted to go to the base of goomlhara falls now it looks like I cant

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[tomh]

As for why funding has not been made available for the repair of tracks, the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) website is worth reading.
http://www.npaq.org.au/latest-news/npaq-very-concerned-about-lnp-park-management-priorities

NPAQ is questioning how the State Government can offer a commercial operator $750,000 of taxpayer's money to develop a campsite on National Park land and not repair the numerous walking tracks that have been closed, in some cases for years, by recent cyclones. Many popular tracks at Lamington, Springbrook, Main Range and Tamborine National Parks are closed because of the failure of this Government to make available operational funding for their repair.

[icanfly]

Thanks :D

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[cams]

The track to the other side of the falls has been closed for years. You used to be able to walk under the falls and then there was a barrier on just the other side. You can see the track has been pretty seriously undermined. I was up there again at New Years and like you was surprised to see the track closed on the main side now too. Still a worthwhile walk but it was a big kick walking behind the falls. I don't remember seeing any signage at the start of the walk saying this was the case? Maybe I just wasn't paying attention.