The East Alligator region of Kakadu National Park has reopened after closing more than two months ago following the death of a prominent traditional owner.

June 23, 2021

Parts of World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park have reopened after closing more than two months ago following the death of a senior Aboriginal leader.

Parks Australia acknowledged prominent East Alligator region traditional owner M Na-gangila Bangalang’s death in April.

Out of respect for his family and the area’s native title holders’ cultural practice, it closed sections of the East Alligator River to visitors.

This included the rock art at Ubirr and upstream and downstream boat ramps.

The region was reopened to the public on Wednesday, Parks Australia said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gunlom Falls – a cascading waterfall that appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee – remains closed amid an ongoing court battle.

A criminal charge was filed in September against Parks Australia by the Northern Territory government after it allegedly illegally disturbed an Aboriginal sacred site at Gunlom.

Parks Australia – which is part of the federal government’s environment department – is accused of building a walking track at the site without permission from traditional owners.

It has since sought and obtained permission to carry out further work at Gunlom and says the offending section of the track will be moved.

It has also publicly apologised to traditional owners for the distress the works caused and urged the NT Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority to drop the matter, but it has refused.

Murrwan man Mr Na-gangila Bangalang was a member of the Kakadu National Park Board of Management.