Quinninup Falls among Margaret River sites at risk

With peak tourism season on the way, concerns are mounting about human traffic damaging the Quinninup Falls sacred site. Once a local secret, fragile sites are exposed to increasing damage in the Instagram era. The Wadandi people are traditional owners of the growing tourism hotspot, with visitors told not to take or alter any rocks of flowers and stick only to walking trails. The local Wadandi warned about the impending problem in 2016 when elder Wayne Webb said access to important sites should be restricted. Custodian Zac Webb echoed the concerns, but did not support restrictions. “The Wadandi community has concerns about what is happening there now, due to the high tourist numbers,” he said. “But we see educational information as a way forward, as opposed to trying to police it or restrict the number of people coming through.” Aboriginal tourism is a growing sector in the high-end market, but damage from tourism has affected a sacred site on the Margaret River as well as damage to nearby cliffs from abseiling, which is now forbidden. Eco-tourism website Off The Beaten Track noted “disappointment” this week at youngsters scrambling atop the waterfall, allegedly causing damage. “Quinninup Falls is a sacred cultural site and you are not supposed to climb on the waterfall nor be on top of it,” the site manager said. “The view from down below is quite spectacular, safe and within a respectful area. “I was absolutely appalled today to see 20-plus people on top of the falls and kids climbing all over the waterfall and throwing rocks which is incredibly dangerous. It’s even worse that this was an organised group.” Margaret River Discovery Company operator Sean Blocksidge said it was, “so bloody annoying a few boneheads have to ruin it for everyone else”. “The Undalup Association, DBCA and Friends of the Cape-to-Cape Track have done such an awesome job upgrading that section of trail and proving good interpretive information,” Mr Blocksidge said. “It clearly states it’s a culturally sensitive area and should be respected. Even a half-baked bogan should have the brain power to understand they need to stick to the trail and don’t need to desecrate the area for a selfie.”