Rock stacking “vandalism” not welcome in Queensland parks
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
People building stacks of rocks in the state’s national parks are causing environmental damage, according to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
In social media posts this week, QPWS said the increasingly common building of rock stacks is becoming a problem in many parks.
It said rangers had recently found a large number of rock stacks in one area of Cania Gorge National Park, near Monto and 500 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.
The stacks were made by people in a dry creek bed, disturbing the role rocks have in the area.
QPWS said stones in creek beds help soil absorb water by preventing runoff, they help to stop erosion along creeks and walking tracks, while scattered rocks provide critical habitat and refuge for many plants and animals.
The practice of building rock stacks, or cairns, is common in many cultures and goes back many thousands of years. They were built for religious ceremonies, to mark significant events and locations, or as burial monuments.
More recently, rock piles were made to provide landmarks and navigational guidance in bushland areas, a purpose QPWS said remains “well respected”.
“Rock stacks which are purely for somebody’s pleasure are becoming a problem in many parks.
“Rock stacks are vandalism, disturbing the natural environment that parks are there to protect. QPWS Rangers can issue a penalty infringement notice to anyone constructing an unauthorised structure or works in parks, with fines of $689.”
