The blame for the vast quantities of rubbish being left behind along the Esperance and Nullarbor coastlines is being laid squarely at the feet of those who travel and camp there.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) has issued a desperate appeal, urging travellers to clean up and respect their environment as they go.
Clearly frustrated by the ongoing and serious litter issues in what should be a pristine area, DPaW Esperance district manager Rob Blok urged campers to think about the effect that dumping rubbish has on the environment.
“We understand camping in remote areas, in particular Nuytsland Nature Reserve, appeals to people that want to experience the raw elements of nature,” he told the Esperance Express. “But it is important that in doing so you are respectful of the environment around you.”
And he encouraged visitors to use the designated national park campsites when exploring the south coast.
“The coastline provides incredible opportunities for people to explore the great outdoors,” he said. “But large amounts of litter are frequently collected from informal camp sites which staff then spend time collecting during regular clean-ups.”
And Mr Blok warned that order that if travellers wanted to continue to enjoy the stunning coastline into the future, then it was absolutely vital that its integrity and aesthetic appeal was protected now.
The Department has also reminded people that the lighting of fires for camping and cooking was restricted and strictly prohibited along the coast at all times of year.
· What more (if anything) can be done to stop the scourge of litter further damaging Australia’s most beautiful areas, and lessening the joy of the Big Lap experience? Comment below.
Patrol patrol patrol and fine those that are creating the problems. If they are camping away from the normal areas, then I would say they are the back packer types. Cant get a van into “of road areas” and they are well known for leaving their rubbish behind.
Have the national parks and local council put up signs stating that fines (heavy fines) will be issued to people who litter or have fires. Place fake cameras or have signs that say there are cameras around, it may deter a few for ruining it for others. I guess patrols are too expensive and time consuming, but it might just make people think twice….
I have many experiences of backpackers and overseas travelers not caring about rubish or caring about others . Don’t blame grey nomads as who wants to mess on own doorstep. Rather make overseas campers have a paid camping visa/permit that has deposit that can be penalised. Regulate them . I have seen many of them leaving a mess behind .
It is NOT grey nomads!! We have cleaned up after many, even taken it to a local tip & told WE had to pay yes it is very frustrating!!
We had the privledge of crossing over in April, we took advantage of the lovely camp sites provided and used the bin at all sites. To our amazement one morning when leaving we noticed our rubbish bags scattered everywhere. We picked this up and put it back in the bin. It was ours as we were the only ones there. The bins where those with a solid lid that the crows can’t pick through the top, it had an opening on the side, we agreed that it had to be a wild cat or animal of some kind that had got in and dragged the rubbish out. Don’t know the answer to this, maybe the skip bins that are now used in WA
If the rubbish is being left in a Government controlled area then perhaps a Clean Deposit can be taken from the applicant and refunded after a 360 degree video of the site is sent to the Govn Dept when the site is vacated with the appropriate date. If there is any litter discovered by Rangers regular patrol then the videos could be reviewed. (The Camera/Phone Age) Perhaps an enduring Clean Deposit for touring applicants
I don’t see grey nomads dumping rubbish any where. I do see locals and some overseas tourists leaving rubbish everywhere and quite a few truckies. But let’s face it it is not a perfect world and if a local ranger has to tidy up some rubbish then be thankful for the well paid and excellent conditions of employment the taxpayer provides and just accept that it is work that will keep you employed where jobs are scarce.
I agree with the poster above. The rubbish is being put in the bin and taken back out by crows. I picked up a bag of rubbish at Moodini bluff and within 15 mins the crows had pulled it back out and shredded it.
Maybe the WA govt needs to look at getting crow-proof bins like the concrete ones in SA. The ones with grills are far too easy for crows to get their beaks into. The majority of people are doing the right thing but they need to look at what is causing the problem ie crows.
I have witnessed crows upacking full bins…..empty frequently and this wont happen
We have been camping for years and never leave a thing….we have a big bag on our back tyre to cart rubbish back to towns.
Yep – we take our rubbish away with us and find bins that the critters can’t get into.
We too came across a few weeks ago. Brought all our rubbish and in the bins provided. I think a lot of us often do a’ rubbish run’ around our camp sites and pick other peoples crap up, and I do mean CRAP, I scooped the big dry turd up with paper, before we free camped over Easter just south of Cowell.
Enforcement in National Parks has become a low priority in many states. Now retired, as a park ranger with Parks Victoria I have witnessed the demise of the role of park rangers as communicators and enforcement officers. National parks have fallen victim to political budgeting. Rationalisation and cost cutting have hit hard at np managers. You’ll find most rangers working these days as administrators and project managers/overseers. I’ve heard the same story from park rangers across other states of staff downsizing, asset rationalisation, and budget cuts. When you add this up it means our np aren’t being managed effectively and are falling into decline.
Enforcement in National Parks has become a low priority in many states. Now retired, as a park ranger with Parks Victoria I have witnessed the demise of the role of park rangers as communicators and enforcement officers. National parks have fallen victim to political budgeting. Rationalisation and cost cutting have hit hard at np managers. You’ll find most rangers working these days as administrators and project managers/overseers. I’ve heard the same story from park rangers across other states of staff downsizing, asset rationalisation, and budget cuts. When you add this up it means our np aren’t being managed effectively and are falling into decline.
Place more bins with secure lids around areas which are obviously favourite camping spots, even though they are not designated. Have regular patrols done by designated collectors. NPs have ‘rationalized’ that they don’t need on-the-ground workers and as a consequence, bins are not emptied, toilets are filthy and tracks are neglected. These rangers were the workers who fixed tracks and prevented a lot of undergrowth which now fuels bushfires. Simple really?
Do what SA do have a 10 cent return on cans, bottles, and drink cartoons.
national parks officers are getting fat waistlines from doing little else but sitting down often on their hands,collecting top wages,large retirement parcels,driving fancy 4wd in towns drinking coffee and eating cakes while the bush bandits are raping and polluting the bush and stealing the flora and fauna from under their noses,while they fine easy targets like nomads or honest clean campers whom pay their salaries.to those rangers that are thededicated footsloggers i dont wish to tar you with the same brush.
Particularly offensive when it is toilet waste or materials that take 50+ years to break down (like disposable nappies) or contain danderous substances (like batteries). I think there’s basically two sorts of people – and it comes back to parenting – my parents taught me to take my litter home and dispose of it carefully. I’ve met others who have never had this taught as they grew up and who have not learned about personal responsibility. Perhaps the only solution is to photograph littered , name and shame them and hand out big fines – they will learn about personal responsibility when it starts hitting the hip pocket nerve!!
It’s not just campsite litter, go and look at the drains, the roadsides and the banks of the Derwent- look at the greywater and septic overflow going into drains that flow into the creeks and rivers in the Yarra Ranges-look at the truck and trailerloads of dumped rubbish in the vicinity of local tips-walk along country roadsides and see the rubbish thrown from cars that is obscured and not cleaned up-HUMANS ARE A PACK OF FILTHY VERMIN.