A north Queensland national park, once home to 'historic' fishing huts, is open for camping but residents fear increased visitation will put pressure on the land.
It has been a year since hundreds of people called on the Queensland Government to stop its planned removal of holiday shacks in and around the Halifax Bay Wetlands National Park, south of Ingham.
The 14 huts, some decades old, were taken down late last year.
"A lot of memories went when we removed it," said former hut owner, Robert Hobbs.
"I don't feel like going there. Some people say change is good, but I don't know about that."
The State Government said the huts restricted free public access and some were unauthorised because they were in a national park without current permits.
But hut owners said the structures were important historic and social assets that were available to many locals.
Open for camping
The Government is now encouraging Queenslanders to book two new campsites in the national park for 15 people at a time.
The site has had extensive day use since November last year but the wet season and COVID-19 restrictions have prevented overnight camping.
"There has been a bit of work to remove old structures from the national park," said Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch.
"But it means the area can now be accessed by all visitors looking to experience this special part of Queensland."
Mr Hobbs said the huts could have coexisted with camping and feared the area would not be respected.
"Our main thing is the litter and the damage that vehicles will be doing to the bush," he said.
Former hut owner, Jason Brown, said he has seen an increased number of visitors and worried they were putting undue pressure on the land.
"Because it's now a public area … we're seeing more vehicles go down there than we ever have," he said.
"These so-called 4WD experts just charge through … they're wrecking the track, and they're wrecking the area.
"I hope it's looked after the way we looked after it and I'm already seeing that it's not."
The Department of Environment said rangers were conducting regular patrols and rubbish facilities were not provided.
Respecting traditional owners
Over the next year, the Government will work with the Nywaigi people and the Hinchinbrook Shire Council to develop a future recreational plan for the area.
The Government also wanted the huts removed to "respect the Nywaigi people's native title determination".
It is understood some traditional owners did not favour the huts.
But Nywaigi traditional owner, Jacob Cassady, said he knew a lot of the hut owners and had no problem with them.
"People have been in [the huts] for generations; they really looked after the country," he said.
"For me personally, I would have been just quite happy to leave people and their lifestyle alone."
Mr Cassady said he was optimistic about the future use of the land.
"There are just great opportunities for our people in terms of employment and job creation and training if we open up these camping areas … where people respect the country," he said.
Hinchinbrook Shire Mayor, Ramon Jayo said hut owners could erect structures on nearby council-owned land, but they had to adhere to modern building legislation.
