Less than raptor in Coast’s Jurassic Park
SPRINGBROOK is like a visit to Jurassic World. It’s a little bit tired and abandoned. The State Government needs to mount a rescue operation.
Our day trip during the school holidays started much like the beginning of moviefranchise films, full of childlike wonder. Several winters had passed since the last visit.
The world-heritage-listed national park can only be accessed by one road because Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd, closed due to landslips after Cyclone Debbie in late Marchearly April last year, still remains months away from being reopened. So that leaves Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd and then Pine Creek Rd as the only route.
Like actor Jeff Goldblum as Dr Ian Malcolm at the start of Jurassic Park, you arrive at the Purlingbrook Falls picnic grounds and your expectations are as high as the mountain.
“What have they got in there, King Kong?” Well, not quite. No genetically designed theme-park styled dinosaurs, at least not yet.
A scrub turkey and an overweight dog searching for scraps in the picnic area. Plenty of available tables on concrete slabs to prevent the spread of mud. Clean barbecues.
A woman from a hired camper van decides to use the nearby bush rather than the toilets. An overseas visitor takes three steps out of his tour bus and lights up a cigarette.
The plot and the greenery thicken. The start of the walk is an easy flat stroll with rolling green blanket views through to the coastline.
Suddenly we are on our way down a series of paved steps with rails. Just follow the laughter – no screams here. Two kilometres later, at the bottom of the falls, everyone stops.
Some walkers are turning back. Others are confused, not sure where to go. We learn the track is cut and it will be impossible to cross the sway bridge and take the easier round path home.
Where was the signage to explain this? How would some of the older walkers cope hiking back up 450 steps?
At the folksy Dancing Waters cafe, helpful staff are explaining to tourists how to spread jam first and later cream on homemade hot scones. They had only just heard of the track closure.
Your columnist made several calls. National Parks said helicopters would be flown in with specialist contractors. The repair work would continue until September.
Remember how the government talked up eco- tourism adventures in the recent State Budget?
Ask outspoken Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates and she explains how Labor deliberately “locked up” the mountain after a $40 million buy-up of land during the Bligh government.
“Under a Labor Government, we’ve seen it again locked up in favour of their Green vote,” she said.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones maintains the Government remains focused on eco-tourism in this term: exciting announcements in the hinterland’s backyard are expected.
“That’s why the Premier appointed Brett Godfrey as the chair of the Tourism and Events Queensland board, because he has the runs on the board when it comes to developing eco-tourism opportunities,’’ she said. “He’s already made contact with Destination Gold Coast and in coming weeks, the chair will visit a series of destinations to explore eco-tourism opportunities on the Coast.”
Hopefully the track will be reopened by then. Otherwise, as Dr Malcolm once remarked on hearing familiar tremors: “This is going to be bad.”