7 days ago
Waterfall used for Netflix film at centre of Aussie controversy
A waterfall near Canberra used a shooting location for an upcoming Netflix film with Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton has returned to the spotlight after insiders revealed the ACT government had expressed no plans of buying the site, currently up for sale.
The once popular tourist attraction known as Gininderra Falls had been publicly accessible until 2004, when the land became closed off.
The closure has been a source of contention among locals ever since, who have argued it is a significant natural site that should not be private.
Locals had been hopeful that government would snap up the land, but an agent involved in the ongoing sale told The Daily Telegraph that the ACT Government had confirmed it had no intention to buy Gininderra Falls.
Once one of the Canberra region's most prominent tourist attractions, Ginninderra Falls was a shooting location for upcoming film Apex, starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton and Eric Bana.
Ray White Rural Canberra/Yass said Tuesday that it seems likely that the site will now fall into private ownership. The property has been up for sale since October.
'The ACT Government (on Monday) confirmed that they are not interested in the site at all,' he said.
'There's been a lot of questioning and petitioning around that through a number of politicians ... It looks like it'll be going into private hands.'
Located on the borders of the ACT and NSW in Wallaroo, Ginninderra Falls is known for its picturesque scenery and namesake waterfall.
Upcoming Netflix thriller Apex was filmed at the falls, with Mr Southwell saying it was an economic boon for the area and a 'proud moment' for the owners and marketing team.
Stars arrived in the country for the filming of Apex in late January, with Theron spotted leaving in May. No release date for the film has been confirmed.
Gininderra Falls has been closed to the public since 2004, a decision which has frustrated locals for two decades.
The site was closed due to reported public liability concerns, and even while closed, several injuries were alleged to have occurred there.
An injured woman was rescued from the site by the ACT Fire and Rescue Vertical Rescue Crew after a fall in February 2019, and a teenage boy sustained a broken arm and an injured pelvis after he fell from Ginninderra Falls in December 2015.
The 56-hectare property has been privately owned by the local Hyles family for over 40 years.
Mr Southwell said the owners would prefer to see the site reopened to the public.
'They would like to see the asset they have enjoyed as a private family property for a long time be opened up to the public,' he said.
ACT Greens MLA for Ginninderra Jo Clay has supported local petitions calling for Ginninderra Falls to be reopened to the public.
Ms Clay said the community has been pushing for support of ecological conservation and the First Nations heritage of the site.
'When it was opened it was truly a spectacular place to visit,' she said.
'Surprisingly, the ACT Government has not considered the potential tourism benefits from reopening Ginninderra Falls, nor have they discussed public access with the NSW Government and Yass Valley Council.
'Many people in Canberra have no idea this gorgeous spot even exists because they … have never been able to access it.'
Two petitions have been launched to get the NSW and ACT Governments to work with the Federal Government to establish the falls as part of a national park.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr first told press last October that the ACT Government was unlikely to purchase the property, with the government confirming this decision this week.
While he could not disclose a price guide, Mr Southwell said larger holdings nearby have sold to the ACT Government for $10-12 million.
These two sales, he said, were based on agricultural value, and do not possess the commercial or development potential of Gininderra Falls.
According to Mr Southwell, interest in the falls has come from far and wide.
'We've received over 350 enquiries from right around the world including Canada, the Middle East and America as well,' he said.
Expressions of interest for the property close on November 28.
