Gold Coast council sparks controversy with plan to stop kids mud sliding on hills

Images of kids covered in mud sliding down grassy hills on the Gold Coast go viral every time there is a major rain event in south-east Queensland.

It has become a tradition, providing hours of fun for stir-crazy teenagers who travel from all over to tackle the hills at Kirra and North Burleigh.

But the City of Gold Coast is sick of cleaning up the mess and is putting an end to the mud sliding once and for all.

The city is planting trees and installing sandstone seating terraces at regular intervals on the hills to end the practice for good.

Rough plans for the levels of sandstone seating terraces to be built at Kirra Hill. (Supplied: Gold Coast City Council)

The damage done to the grass during Tropical Cyclone Alfred was the final straw, after residents complained it was an eyesore and left behind a foul smell.

Councillor Gail O’Neill said “thousands” of dollars of ratepayers’ money had been spent re-turfing the hills.

“We have been putting up with this for years, but over the last couple of years we have got lots of complaints,” she said.

“It takes a whole lot of money and a whole lot of time to restore.

“The hill is there for everybody, not just for a few kids — and adults — who want to mud slide down there.”

Kirra Hill is a popular place for children to create mud slides following heavy rain. (ABC News: Dominic Cansdale)

Locals divided on sliding ban

The decision has polarised public opinion.

While mud sliding has prompted plenty of complaints, not everyone is in favour of the change.

Long-time local Lorna Bartholomew, 83, said she had seen generations of kids enjoy sliding down Kirra Hill — mostly recently, her three grandsons during storms earlier this year.

Kirra Hill becomes ‘muddy mess’

Some locals say they’d rather see kids playing outside than staring at their iPads, but the council says something is going to have to be done about the damage to the hill.

“They just love it, for those couple of days the kids have a lot of fun,” she said.

“On the Gold Coast it’s not like they get snow to slide on, this is what they have instead.”

Ms Bartholomew said while she understood the council’s frustration at having to pay to replenish the grass, she said it provided an opportunity for local children of all ages to have fun together.

However, she will not miss the clothes being a write-off.

“The mud just does not come out, no matter how much you wash, it leaves stains,” Ms Bartholomew said.

“I don’t think it was dangerous because it’s a relatively gradual slope and there weren’t any trees or anything they were going to run into.”

Gail O’Neill says the council has spent thousands restoring Kirra Hill. (ABC News: Dominic Cansdale)

Cr O’Neill said she had personally witnessed a child slide off the hill and onto the footpath, and city officers had decided it had become a safety risk.

The seating terraces will be cut into the hill at Kirra this month, with works at North Burleigh to follow in September.

“I think this will be a good outcome for a lot of residents and visitors to actually walk up the hill, have a seat and watch the beautiful view,” Cr O’Neill said.

“Wait and see before you make comment, you might really like the change.”