There are few things as upsetting to grey nomads as coming across ‘pristine’ areas which have been spoiled by evidence of other people’s toiletry habits.
While bush campers understand that they may have to be self-reliant in that department, the lack of facilities in certain national parks is a growing source of concern for many.
The popular Mt Coolum National Park on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is a case in point, with Maroochydoore MP Fiona Simpson warning that the growing number of visitors there, combined with a lack of facilities was causing an environmental and public health issue.
“The stink over the lack of loos at the Mt Coolum National Park is growing stronger,” she told the Queensland parliament. “But Environment Minister Steven Miles is poo-pooing the desperate cries of the public for relief.”
Earlier this year, a petition calling for toilets and improved parking at Mt Coolum gathered thousands of names. Visitors to the Mt Coolum National Park have more than doubled since the upgrade of the summit track in 2012,
Mountain Juice and Coffee owner Chris Myers, whose business is located on the site, has previously told the Sunshine Coast Daily that he watches people wandering in and out of the bush to relieve themselves all day.
“Every second customer asks for the toilet and the closest toilets are at Yaroomba beach so, after a long drive and battling for a car park, they get back in their car and head to the toilet or they just head straight into the bush,” he said. “The quarry track stinks and it’s lined with faeces and urine and toilet paper.”
I have been travelling this wonderful country of OZ for the past 19 years in my motor home and have all ways come accross this sort of thing “every where” and cannot for the life of me wonder why councils don’t just drill a hole ( the same as a power pole ) and put a concrete tank whit a dunny seat in it , over the hole when it fills drill another next to it and tow the concrete tank over second hole ( can be 15 to 20 ft deep , and may be this would Help aleviate the terrible problem we have — most popular spots are at the back of land marks along all our highways — SO come on councils do it for australia !
In my experience…. Some people have no awareness, young or old. It doesn’t occur to them to carry a small bag to take the toilet paper away. Like some people don’t pick up after their dogs.
Some think they have a right, others seriously don’t think. My neighbours have small dogs. They take them out on the golf course, but never pick up the dog shit. I guess they don’t think about how awful it is when you’re in a comp and can’t move the ball, and have to slice through the poo……
That’s folk for you 🙂
Most of us travelers do the right thing, but you do find a lot of people who don’t and then you have a problem with faeces and toilet paper everywhere, if they bury it it isn’t a problem, but yes more facilities like enviroloos would solve the problem.
Dogs, cats, snakes and other wildlife go when and where they like. Why can’take people.
Answer to both questions: No
I dont think any one who camps without toilet facilities does the right thing, camping ( especially free camping ) should mean that one spends the money to set themselves up with the proper gear eg at least some sort of portaloo, dump points are now everywhere, solar panels are cheap ( why do people) expect others who are well equipped to listen to the noise pollution of novice nomads generators? crapping in the bush & at camp sites is not only a serious health risk but animalistic , cop yourselves on & rig yourselves up properly, with increasing numbers of nomads on the road one can safely assume more legislation will follow, we have to start doing the right thing now!