Mountain closed amid anger over ‘senseless’ vandalism

John Crouch | May 29, 2023

A Queensland mountain is being temporarily closed to the public after “callous and senseless” vandals defaced a significant Indigenous site.

Authorities are investigating after vandals used a power tool to grind the words “Jesus Saves Just Ask Him” into the rock at the base of the Sunshine Coast’s Mt Beerwah on May 20.

The mountain, in Glass House Mountains National Park, is a site of high cultural significance for the local Jinibara people.

The Environment Department said the closure would allow further investigation of the “senseless act” and give Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and the traditional owners time to try to minimise the damage.

Regional director Geoff Brittingham said the vandalism had left rangers and the Jinibara people “reeling with disgust and sadness”.

Not only had the vandals defaced the rock but had also caused “immeasurable damage and hurt to the Jinibara’s wellbeing”.

“The mountain won’t be reopened until the healing has taken place and the environmental vandalism has been repaired,” Mr Brittingham said.

“For the Jinibara, I hope this will in some way provide time and space to seek to heal deeper cultural wounds.”

An alert on the Parks and Wildlife website says the closure is in place until July 9.

Rangers and the Jinibara had zero tolerance to environmental vandalism and asked people to respect the closure, Mr Brittingham said.

The offenders could face fines up to $500,000 and two years’ jail.