Anyone found illegally climbing Mt Beerwah in the Glasshouse Mountains while it is temporarily closed will be fined according to an Environment Department spokesperson.
The warning comes after it took rescue crews three hours to find and bring a hiker back to the ground after he became lost on the mountain on Monday night.
The man in his 20s called for help around 7.30pm on Monday.
Emergency crews used rock climbing harnesses and equipment to rescue him.
Mt Beerwah is currently closed for cultural healing, after a rock at the base had words gouged into it by vandals last month.
“It was an act of shocking environmental vandalism – not only has the person or persons responsible extensively defaced an area of national park, but they have also caused much damage and hurt to the Jinibara People,” a Department of Environment spokesperson said.
“Although the vast majority of people do the right thing, it is frustrating that some have ignored the temporary closure, and the wishes of the local traditional owners, to refrain from climbing Mt Beerwah while we repair the physical damage to the mountain and while the deeper cultural wounds to the Jinibara People are healed,” the spokesperson said.
The closure of the mountain is signposted, with notices in the nearby car park and at the entrance to the walking track.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers will be patrolling the area and anyone who is found to be contravening the closure without authorisation faces an on-the-spot fine of $619.
Alternative hiking and rock scrambling tracks are available at Mount Ngungun and the Yul-yan-man track at Mount Beerburrum.
