An indigenous group and the traditional owners of parts of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, threatened to ban boat tour trips to the famed Horizontal Falls following an accident in 2022 when a tour boat careered into rocks, badly injuring 18 visitors.
Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation (DAC) has urged the Cook Government to close both gaps in the rock structure of the Garaan-ngaddim Falls, which creates the illusion of a horizontal waterfall.
The group wants the gaps to be closed to commercial and recreational vessels used by tour operators to minimise the impact on the monument's cultural heritage value and to ensure the safety of tourists.
The group is receiving resistance from the Tourism Council as they say the tourist hotspot has significant economic value because it creates jobs, attracts visitors globally and assists the region with revenue generation.
Tourism Council CEO Evan Hall said the unique bucket list experience is used along with Ningaloo’s whale sharks to promote the region to the world and is thus crucial to its branding, reports thewest.com.au.
DAC, which co-manages the park with the local government, has stated that its blockade will not entirely conceal the natural wonder. The closure it is proposing will prevent vessels from passing through its dangerous gaps that contain strong tides and currents.
“DAC still intends that tourists will be able to visit Talbot Bay, observe the powerful splendour of the falls and other attractions in the area,” said a spokesperson.
