Gorge adventures ‘safe’
Behana tour firm owner rejects critics
THE owner of the first company to run adventure tours into the pristine Behana Gorge has defended the safety measures around his business.
Sam Day was granted approval by Queensland Parks and Wildlife on July 23 for his business Behana Days to operate abseiling and rope jumping at Clamshell Falls within the Behana Gorge section of Wooroonooran National Park.
But some residents, such as Scott Clarke from Gordonvale, have raised concerns about the safety of the operation and the precedent it could set.
Mr Clarke said he trekked up to the gorge every weekend with his two young sons.
“I don’t think it’s safe to have a vehicle on a track that so many people walk on,” he said.
“But my secondary concern is that it sets a dangerous precedent. We shouldn’t have private vehicles having exclusive access to a council road for commercial benefit.”
A Department spokesman said the permit was only granted with consent from Cairns Regional Council, which owns the access road.
“The terrain and road are not dissimilar to a large number of roads throughout the Cairns hill slopes area and the activity of driving a mini bus on such a road would be considered low risk, compared to other activities which occur throughout Queensland, such as scuba diving, abseiling and mountain biking, for example,” the spokeswoman said.
“As with any road which goes through a national park QPWS would advise all users, whether motorists or pedestrians, to take care and obey the road rules.” Mr Day, who said he grew up at Gordonvale and visited Behana Gorge countless times, said his background as a firefighter with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services meant he was formally trained in vertical rescue, highlevel first aid and risk management.
“I wanted to start a tour where I could transfer these skills,” he said.
Mr Day said he was running two to three tours each week and that the operation would not run during the wet season or on rainy days.
“It has been approved because it’s been deemed there is no detriment to the environment,” he said.