It is real. This dude is working alone as best we can tell. He has been seen by a number of people, but no pics and he has always bolted after being seen. This is the description - late 40s - early 50s, short probably grey hair, solid and 100kg or more in weight, "walks like an ape" and has been seen carrying a bag (tools) and wearing Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd T shirts.
This all started 10 months ago with trail flagging ribbons being pulled out, then saplings broken across trails, then logs added where they can't be seen until too late, log overs damaged with one side removed or spaced so your front wheel gets trapped. That caused a broken nose in a youngster. Lots of rocks have been placed on trails and fire roads in patterns that get you if you try to avoid the first rock. This particularly upsets us because it tends to be beginners and families on the fire roads. There were reports of fishing line being strung to catch riders avoiding rocks on singletrack, but I haven't seen that myself. Lots of skinny bridges have been damaged or removed. Some were sabotaged, but left looking intact. I heard of one rider biffing when a bridge collapsed under him. The bridge damage can be very malicious with part of the bridge removed where it cannot be seen, so that once you commit it is too late.
I have been away a bit recently, but I hear a police officer riding with his mate (another police officer) was brought down by a booby trap and now it has gone to the next level. So I have to give an official police report and also have media chasing me for details again. ABC radio covered the story a couple of months ago and Channel 9 is after me today for information.
So, yes there is potential danger in the Nerang National Park. We have basically adopted an out and back on the same trail approach. I do not feel comfortable about hitting structures or riding at speed until a trail is checked and safe. After a recent controlled burn in Region 2 of the park (Bailey's, Exit Trail, Happy Valley, Roy's, 911, Netti) this guy is likely to be working elsewhere if he has no cover. Having said that, we have not been into Region 2 as QPWS still has it closed due to the risk of falling trees, so I don't really know if all of the trails have had their vegetation burned away. It sort of looks like it may be green lower down, but that may just be canopy. Therefore, be extra careful on Pete's, Brett's, Neverending, Pandora, Avatar, Superloop and GG's, especially the last five as they are more isolated and he has done a lot of bridge damage out back in the last 6 months. He has also done damage to Casuarina Loop (again beginners being targeted) and Three Hills in the recent past, including a large sapling being pulled across Hill 2 on Three Hills where speeds are high on the descent. Nowhere is totally safe.
We need pictures of this guy and if anyone can identify him leaving or entering the park, it will help locate his point of origin. It is possible he lives adjacent to the park. We did get a video sent to us recently that clearly identified a vehicle, but the vid of the bloke was very brief and it was felt inappropriate to pursue, especially as he was driving a vehicle that could easily have been one of the fire personnel. Thanks for your help.