Locals call for increased safety measures at Queensland waterhole

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Babinda boulders swimming hole in far north Queensland is famed for its beauty, drawing tourists from across the globe but it’s also claimed dozens of lives. Locals say despite renewed safety measures more action is needed to prevent another tragedy.

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00:00A stunning natural attraction, the Babinda boulders in far north Queensland entices locals and tourists alike.

00:10It's a pretty special, magical place.

00:12But beneath the picturesque surface are hidden dangers.

00:16While some parts are safe to swim, others are near impossible to escape.

00:22There's certain areas there that if you slip, if you fall, if you go in there, you'll be a recovery, you won't be a rescue.

00:29More than 20 people have died in the waterhole since 1916.

00:34There was times when I was a child where I had nightmares about when you would hear the ambulance coming to do a body retrieval.

00:42The flow on affecting the trauma from an incident like that can't be understated.

00:47While fencing and new signage have been installed to try to keep swimmers from the danger zones, it doesn't deter everyone.

00:55Not on my own, but maybe with a few minutes I might jump in.

00:58Leanne Thompson grew up here and has researched the boulders' troubled history.

01:02She's campaigning for more to be done.

01:05They could tap into some of the fears like of being trapped underwater in a confined space.

01:11The Cairns Council says it's looking at providing new trails that lead to safer swimming areas

01:17and says it's open to incorporating messages from traditional owners to dissuade people from entering into danger zones.

01:24We don't go swimming in there.

01:26We respect it.

01:28And that's the whole point of just to respect the place.

01:31The way that they bring in there is a place where they are.

01:32A little bit of a hypocrisy for the rest of the body is going to be outside.

01:33There is also a little bit of a little bit of a place where they are.

01:34There is no place where they are.

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