Latest news with #GunlomFalls
ABC News
03-07-2025
- ABC News
Traditional owners reopen Gunlom Falls in Kakadu after six-year closure
One of the most picturesque waterfalls in Kakadu National Park is set to be reopened to the public today, following a six-year closure. Gunlom Falls, located about 4 hours' drive south-east of Darwin, is one of the most popular spots in the World Heritage-listed national park, famed for its panoramic views. The return of visitors marks the final chapter in a years-long dispute over the disturbance of a sacred men's site near the falls, for which Parks Australia was fined a record amount for breaching NT laws. The reopening has been hotly anticipated by tourists and comes at the peak of the territory's tourism season. A previous planned reopening in May was cancelled at the last minute after unseasonably heavy rain flooded the site. The Gunlom Falls campground and top pool will be open from 8am this morning, but the bottom pool will remain fenced off for now as rangers continue searching for a saltwater crocodile believed to be inhabiting the area — suspected to be at least 4 metres long. Traditional dances will be performed later in the morning to celebrate the reopening and a jumping castle will be set up for kids. "Come enjoy yourself, just have respect for the country itself and respect that the bottom pool is closed for safety reasons until further notice," Bernie Calma, a ranger and traditional owner of the Jawoyn people's Matjba clan, said. Rangers have carried out extensive crocodile survey work in the lead-up to the reopening and had removed one 2-metre crocodile, Ms Calma confirmed. But she said a second, bigger crocodile believed to be more than 4 metres long was still unaccounted for. Jawoyn traditional owners camped out at the site on the day before the waterfall's reopening, in a gathering Ms Calma said was "pretty overwhelming" for many who had not been on-country for some time. Gunlom Falls has been closed since 2019, when damage to a sacred site triggered a protracted legal dispute that ultimately reached the High Court. That year, Parks Australia built a walking track to help visitors reach the top pools more safely. The route went against the wishes of traditional owners and exposed a sacred men's site. Parks Australia was initially successful in arguing it was immune from the Northern Territory's sacred site laws, but the High Court later overturned that ruling, finding the agency could be held criminally liable. Parks Australia then pleaded guilty to disturbing the site and carrying out the works without an authority certificate from the NT's sacred site watchdog. At an on-country hearing last year, Judge Elizabeth Morris said the public expected "conduct of the highest order" from the federal agency and issued it with a $200,000 fine, the largest ever under the NT's sacred site laws. Ms Calma said the reopening was a moment of closure for traditional owners. "When we won the court case we all felt really good about it — we were really happy that the ancestors and our old people believed in us, [that we] would fight for country." The dispute over Gunlom occurred during a period of strain in the relationship between Indigenous custodians and park management. Ms Calma said that relationship had since been "mended really well" and was now on the right track. "We're looking forward to working with Parks Australia more on other sacred sites within the park as well," she said.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Major development after Aboriginal group shut down spectacular swimming spot for SIX years
A spectacular swimming hole in the Northern Territory will reopen after the traditional owners closed it off from the public for six years. The famous Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park was closed after Parks Australia built a walkway up to a scenic view. Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) launched legal action claiming the work was done near a sacred site without their permission. Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, all construction work must be agreed to and signed off by the AAPA. The dispute went to court with the federally run Parks Australia fined $200,000 and issuing an apology. However, traditional owners from the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust have given the green light for Parks Australia to reopen the falls to the public. It comes as Northern Land Council has negotiated a new lease agreement with the federal government for Kakadu National Park, with increased rent of $10.7 million per year. Parks is now conducting final safety checks ahead of a planned reopening for the falls in late May. After the rainy season from November to April, the site has a roaring waterfall cascading down 85-metre cliffs to an emerald billabong. The falls also offer stunning views across the south of Kakadu National Park. The billabong will be open for swimming during the dry season from May to October. There is a public campground near the base of the falls, complete with showers and toilets, while the nearest accommodation is Cooinda Lodge, about an hour away by 4WD. The falls, previously known as UDP falls after the Uranium Developing and Prospecting Company, have long attracted tourists to the Northern Territory. In 1986 the site appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee.
