One of ‘s most naturally beautiful places could become the latest to be closed off to visitors due to a ban by traditional owners.
Horizontal Falls in Western ‘s Kimberley is a hugely popular destination for tourists from within the state, across the country and around the world.
But the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation (DAC) want to ban all boats from passing through the spectacular cliff gaps, saying it’s a culturally sensitive site.
If the ban goes ahead, Horizontal Falls will join other popular destinations around the country that have been closed off to tourists due to cultural sensitivities.
Visitors have been threatened with hefty fines in some cases while hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars have already been spent hiring security to stop tourists from walking up one mountain in NSW.
Horizontal Falls (pictured) could become the latest tourist destination to be closed off to visitors due to a ban by traditional owners
The WA government does not want to see the Falls, which are worth tens of millions of dollars to the local economy every year, cut off from tourism in any way.
‘These are unique experiences that are world class, and it’s something West ns are aspiring to do,’ Evan Hall of the WA Tourism Council told 9News.
The falls form when seawater rapidly flows through two short, narrow gorges about 300 metres apart.
DAC said the area they call Garaan-ngaddim is ‘a powerful, sacred place. Our people lived there all year round, and we still feel their presence.
‘It is a quiet, calm place. But it can be dangerous. You don’t rush through it – we’ve seen how country responds when people don’t respect its power,’ the Corporation said.
Dozens of tourists were injured in a horror boating incident at Horizontal Falls in May 2022.
This sparked safety concerns from the traditional owners, with DAC saying ‘We ask visitors to be quiet at Garaan-ngaddim, respect our cultural obligations to care for country and culture, and keep you safe.’
The Corporation said tourists would still be welcome to see the Falls and its beauty, but not to pass by boat through the cliffs.
‘It is a lot safer to go into our national parks and our unique areas with a tourism operator, than free and independent travel,’ Mr Hall said.
The WA government said the area has significant economic, cultural and social value.
‘It’s an iconic tourism experience in ‘s north-west that creates local jobs, attracts visitors from around the world and generates visitor spend in local communities.
‘We want to see Horizontal Falls remain open to visitors, so those economic benefits can continue to flow – especially to the local community.’
Mr Hall added that ‘We really want to make sure that experience is there for everybody, but it is there in a safe and culturally sensitive manner.’
‘These are unique experiences that are world class, and it’s something West ns are aspiring to do,’ Evan Hall (pictured) of the WA Tourism Council said
The traditional owners said in a statement that ‘We have never supported boats rushing through the Falls.
‘In the past (tourism) operators didn’t listen, and we didn’t have a say. Now they are starting to understand and respect how sensitive this place is for us.’
In NSW, taxpayers have paid more than $100,000 to block hikers from climbing a iconic mountain after it was declared ‘sacred’ for cultural reasons.
Private security guards were hired at a cost of $7,000 a week in April by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to prevent access to Mt Warning in the Wollumbin National Park in northern NSW.
In Victoria, a rock climber was threatened with a $346,000 fine under cultural heritage laws after visiting an iconic destination.
The visitor was left stunned after receiving a letter following their visit to the Grampians National Park, in Victoria, on October 18.
Victoria’s First Peoples-State Relations unit is reportedly monitoring climbers and other visitors after rock climbing in the area was banned in 2019.
The ban was introduced in a bid to protect Indigenous heritage – including rock art that is so worn down it can only be viewed through special X-ray glasses.
The Horizontal Falls (pictured) form when seawater rapidly flows through two short, narrow gorges about 300 metres apart
A rock climber was threatened with a $346,000 fine after his car was connected with alleged cultural heritage breaches in the Grampians (pictured, a climber at nearby Mt Arapiles)
The letter sent out by First Peoples-State Relations in Victoria is pictured
The rock climber’s home was visited twice by a First Peoples unit investigator who claimed a vehicle registered in their name was connected with cultural heritage breaches.
In the latest such incident, a top Aboriginal body has been slammed over its push to bring in ‘culture police’ to inspect houses and farms in Victoria.
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council warned that its staff investigating alleged cultural heritage breaches needed more power to do their job and should be allowed to enter private property without the owner’s or renter’s permission
The Council, which is under the wing of Victoria’s Department of Premier and Cabinet, used an example of the remains of an Indigenous person that might be in a shed but not retrieved because the occupier’s approval was needed for entry.