Secret National Park hideaway lands tourists in hot water

A clandestine cabin, built with illegally felled trees deep within a Queensland national park, has landed a group of holidaymakers in hot water, with rangers slapping them with nearly $8,000 in fines.

The elaborate scheme, uncovered in Curtis Island National Park, involved the construction of an unauthorised hut used periodically by visitors.

The discovery has prompted a stern warning from authorities about respecting protected areas.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers launched targeted patrols after a suspicious ranger noticed unusual activity on the island last year.

Their investigation revealed the existence of the illegal structure and a string of other unlawful activities taking place on the remote Capricorn Coast island.

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An illegal cabin has been uncovered on Curtis Island. Source: DETSI

A surfboard is carried on a buggy in the national park area. Source: DETSI

More than 18 people have been identified as being involved in the secret construction project, according to the Department of Environment.

Tina Alderson, regional director of the Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks Region, emphasised the importance of adhering to the law in a statement.

“Building an illegal structure in a protected area essentially excludes others from the area and causes damage to the environment,” she said.

“This hut was also used as a base for other illegal activities.”

“People who want to build a hut for their own personal use for activities such as fishing, hunting and vehicle-based activities can do so on private land but not in a national park.”

While the hut was first discovered in August, its removal has been delayed by recent wet weather. Authorities have vowed to dismantle the structure.

“QPWS is serious about compliance, and anyone who builds an illegal structure in a protected area will be caught,” Ms Alderson said.

Fines Fly After Illegal Activities Uncovered

Monitoring of the area around the cabin revealed a catalogue of illegal activities, including unlawful fires, bringing domestic dogs into the protected area, hunting with firearms, and driving both vehicles in restricted access areas and unregistered vehicles.

The illegal felling of trees to construct the cabin compounded the offences.

“So far, we have issued 22 penalty infringement notices totalling $7,606, which includes two people receiving fines of more than $1,000 each for their role in the offending,” Ms Alderson said.

More than a dozen people have been implicated in the illegal national park activities. Source: DETSI

Curtis Island, the third largest continental island in Queensland, is described by the Queensland Environment Department as a hidden gem boasting “wind-sheared scrublands, diverse birdlife and pristine beaches”.

It’s also home to the critically endangered Capricorn yellow chat and threatened flatback turtles, according to the ABC.

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