A woman has died after falling from Boroka Lookout in Victoria’s Grampians National Park.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said it appeared the 38-year-old woman had climbed over the fencing to take a photo and had slipped and fallen 80 metres to her death,
“That is dangerous behaviour, and yesterday should be a stark reminder that anyone who wants to do those extreme photos for social media, that it can kill you,” said Ms Neville. “No photo is worth a life.”
The lookout is one of the most popular in the Grampians, looking over Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield.
Parks Victoria recently released its draft Grampians Landscape Management Plan which identified the risks associated with people seeking to capture spectacular images.
“Overcrowding can be an issue at these sites (including Boroka Lookout), as can people going off-track,” it said. “Current barrier fencing and signage has been inadequate to prevent significant numbers of visitors accessing the ledges seeking photos.”
The draft plan suggested possible solutions were providing high-impact signage regarding the risk and regulations, better defining access paths to the lookouts, and establishing an expanded and effective physical barrier fence.
It also suggests reducing the amount of images of Boroka used in marketing the national park to direct visitors to other areas.
Parks Victoria is accepting feedback on its draft plan until January 24.
This growing list of incidents and tragedies has left national park authorities facing something of a dilemma … how do they balance maximising the safety of visitors with allowing them full access to the incredible beauty of Australia’s stunning gorges, trails, mountains and rock pools.
Last year, the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service said nobody wanted to see a national park filled with obtrusive fences but sometimes it says it is left with little choice.
“Before people enter dangerous areas such as cliff tops and tidal rock shelves, we urge them to think about the consequences of their actions,” said an NPWS spokesperson. “Safety is also a personal responsibility and park management encourages visitors to be aware of their own physical abilities and experience when deciding on which activities to undertake in our national parks.”
South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water said it was important for visitors to research the places they are going and to take direction from park rangers.
“Exploring national parks is an opportunity to discover untouched beauty,” said a spokesperson. “However, it is not possible to remove or treat all potential hazards and risks in parks.”
Common sense and being responsible for your actions is a thing of the past. Please don’t install fences that will intrude on pictures. We were in the Grampians 2 years ago and a group of 3 young people had climbed out onto a ledge.
The only way you can stop that kind of stupidity is to fence it off completely so NOBODY can get close to the lookout – which would be a shame.
People not adhering to rules in regard to safety is occurring at other sights in the Grampians as well. I have seen it and reported to Parks Victoria. It is not fair to the everyday law abiding person to have large barriers preventing the spectacular views from being admired. This is an accident which was avoidable by obeying the signs.
Today, despite the barriers (or is it because of them?) people are getting into trouble, whereas fifty years ago we went to these same places that didn’t have barriers then and simple observation told us it was a dangerous place for the careless … and we’re still here to talk about it.
A few people’s gross stupidity should not curtail the activity of the rest of us that have an adventurous spirit but use common sense.
I say take down all of the barriers and just have a sign warning of the dangers, otherwise we may as well barricade all river ways, gullies, cliff tops, beaches, ponds, bathtubs, roads. Oh and while we’re at it don’t forget to fence off the snakes, spiders, mosquitoes, magpies and the deadly Drop Bears!
A sign at the entry point also mobile messages when one enters a dangerous area… stating that you are responsible for your own safety and that if you wish to do brainless act’s to get a photo that kills you then so be it… As at the end of the day every person ARE responsible for their own life. Maybe when these senseless acts go onto social media they should be fined $5000 for each act. Maybe it’s time “alleged’ is removed as photo is clear evidence being proof enough.
Good employment creator… wanted nursemaids in dangerous areas to protect the stupid
Last time I was there I could not get any decent photos as there was a group of twelve or fifteen idiots perched out on the end of the lookout getting their photos taken. Don’t put up more barriers and spoil the view for the majority, they will ignore them as they do now. Let natural selection take its course.