Campers warned of closures as heavy rains affect national parks

Severe rains and flooding have forced the closure of camping grounds and walking tracks in many national parks ahead of Australia Day.

Environment Minister Vicky Darling warned holidaymakers to check road conditions before setting out, as well as the latest status of national parks closures at derm.qld.gov.au, by calling 13 QGOV (13 7468) or following @QldParkAlerts on twitter.

“Campers booked in for any Queensland national park or state forest over the next week need to check if their campground is still open before they travel,” Ms Darling said.

“At this stage more than 200 bookings have been affected but the situation is likely to change as the expected heavy rains continue over the coming days.”

Ms Darling said all of the affected campers to date were in the south east of the state.

“All walking tracks and camping areas have been closed in Conondale National Park, Conondale Range Great Walk, Imbil State Forest, Jimna State Forest, Mapleton Falls National Park and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk.

“Camping areas have also been closed in Amamoor State Forest and Forest Reserve near Gympie and the upper Noosa River in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.

“On Bribie Island, the Gallagher Point and Poverty Creek camping areas have been closed as well as the Northern Access Track.

“While Ocean Beach camping has not been affected, the main access road to the island is currently closed and travellers should check the RACQ website for the latest information.”

“Bladensburg National Park in the central west and Idalia and Lochern National Parks in Central Queensland are closed but no campers were booked in to these areas.

Ms Darling said numerous walking tracks had also been affected by the heavy rains which had also led to flooding in some areas.

The affected parks include:

• Bribie Island Recreation Area: Gallagher Point and Poverty Creek camping areas, Northern Access Track.
• Burleigh Head National Park: Ocean View walking track.
• Cooloola section, Great Sandy National Park: All Upper Noosa River walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• D’Aguilar National Park: Bellbird Grove Day Use Area, Western Escarpment Forest Drive, as well as some road closures in the Mount Mee section. Campgrounds remain open.
• Lamington National Park: Coomera, Illinbah, West Canungra, Toolona tracks and Albert River circuits closed.
• Moreton Island National Park: Tangalooma Bypass Road closed.
• Springbrook National Park: Natural Bridge Circuit, including access to Glow Worm Cave, Purling Brook Circuit, section between Springbrook Road and Waringa Pool.
• Amamoor State Forest and Forest Reserve: Amamoor and Cedar Grove campgrounds closed.
• Conondale National Park: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Conondale Range Great Walk: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Imbil State Forest: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Jimna State Forest: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area: Caution required due to erosion on beach. Access not possible at low tide.
• Kondalilla National Park: All walking tracks closed.
• Mapleton Falls National Park: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Mapleton Forest Reserve: All walking tracks closed.
• Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk: All walking tracks and camping areas closed.
• Main Range National Park: Spicers Gap Road, beyond the campground. Camping not affected.
• Bladensburg National Park: Closed.
• Idalia National Park: Closed.
• Lochern National Park: Closed.

Campers booked in for any Queensland national parks and State forests over the next week should check road conditions before setting out, as well as checking if the campgrounds are open at www.derm.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 QGOV (13 7468).

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