An ecolodge operator in the Glass House Mountains is calling for clearer safety warnings for climbers following recent deaths and rescues on the popular peaks.
Over the past five months, Mount Tibrogargan has recorded one fatality and six rescue operations, while nearby Mount Beerwah has also been the scene of a double tragedy.
Glass House Mountains ecolodge owner Chris Pires said the repeated incidents were having a confronting impact on locals living nearby.
“I live right next to Tibrogargan and we hear the helicopters quite often,” he said.
“And because we’ve had a larger number of critical incidents here in Glass House with people passing, which is really unfortunate, when you hear the helicopter you kind of get a shiver. You think there has to be something better.”
On March 17, Jack Thatcher and Lorielle Georgina, both 18, died after falling more than 50 metres while climbing Mount Beerwah.
At Mount Tibrogargan, a woman was found dead at the base of the mountain on April 4 after reports she had been heard calling out for assistance.
Just weeks later, on May 3, emergency services were called after a 17-year-old slipped and fell while hiking the trail.
Mr Pires said the issue was not signage alone, but how the mountains are described across tourism and online platforms.
“Those mountains need to be known as scrambles,” he said.
“It needs to be consistent across all platforms that talk about hiking or trails.”
He said many visitors were arriving without a clear understanding of the terrain.
“Everyone thinks it’s a sign problem. I don’t believe it’s a sign problem,” he said.
“It’s what they’ve read online or what content creators have put out.”
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Mr Pires said clearer wording would help people understand the risks before attempting the climbs.
“If we want to lead on this, we need clear communication using one word people understand. They read it and think, okay, that’s not for us,” he said.
“It’s not a hike. You can’t just call it a hike, or the average person will just go off and have a crack.”
He said responsibility needed to be shared across government, operators and the public.
“We can’t just rely on governments… it’s a team effort,” he said.
“Everyone here in Glass House, everyone in Australia should take on a responsibility of understanding that these are scrambles.”
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan were natural places that carried real risks.
“It is vital that visitors follow safety advice, including never climbing in wet conditions,” the spokesperson said.
“There are safety signs on the way to each climb with reminders and risks clearly outlined.
“These are not walking tracks; they are steep climbs that require rock scrambling and climbing skills, and people are encouraged to pay attention to these signs for their own safety.”
It also confirmed the Queensland Government was not considering permanently closing the mountains or installing chains at Mount Tibrogargan.
