The problem of littering at Australia’s campsites and rest areas is one which is continuing to grow as traveller numbers climb.
With many local councils and national parks facing ever more serious budget constraints, the rubbish problem at some sites is getting out of hand … even in those areas that should be the most pristine.
The Sunshine Coast Daily reports that the Teewah Beach camping area in the Great Sandy National Park, north of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, has been turned into ‘an open toilet and rubbish dump’. The issue is driving travellers, away and spoiling the experience for those who do choose to stay.
As in many other places, it is volunteers who are helping to keep the problem in check.
Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast branch president Craig Macintyre organises twice-yearly volunteer beach clean-ups. He says National Parks and Wildlife simply ‘don’t have the resources and time’ to do it all. In May, more than 100 volunteers collected two tonnes of rubbish from the Noosa River to Double Island Point.
Among the most unpleasant and worrying issue is that of ‘bush toileting’, and a National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing spokesman campers should bring self-contained portable toilets to help reduce the problem.
One regular camper at the area, Martin Hackwood, told the Sunshine Coast Daily that things were getting worse.
“People are just driving through the bushes and cutting timber down, defecating behind the trees and not cleaning up,” he said. “It’s being loved to death.”
According to the statistics, more than 60,000 people camped at Teewah Beach last year.
I suppose spending some of our rates and taxes on public toilets would be a good start.
As a part time Grey Nomad of 10 years, I always carry my gloves and rubbish bag. When we stop for a cuppa or camp and there is rubbish out I go and fill the rubbish bag ,then drop it off at the next bin or town. Fast food and drinks cans mostly . More bins and reminders” Not to Rubbish Australia”. is needed everywhere.
Offer grey nomads free park passes if they sign an agreement to assist with cleaning up the areas they wish to visit. I would in a flash participate in such an arrangement, but they would have to allow me to take my dogs which are very well managed while travelling. It is all about compromise.
Please tell me why we pay taxes? Surely money should be spent on a drop toilet and a rubbish bin in these places? We pay councils rates and from obsevation most council employees just sit in their trucks on their phones all day. Ive just watched two of them in mooloolaba parked by a park for a three hour lunch break.