‘Disappointing’ trend in Australian campsites sends serious message to tourists

Australian campers are being urged to show “respect” when visiting some of Australia’s most popular and sacred places, as authorities and travelers alike observe an increase in deliberate and illegal dumping.

While it’s happening across the country and more Australians are doing the wrong thing and leaving a mess in their wake, the latest example at a campsite on K’gari, an island in Queensland, is “extremely disappointing to see”, according to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) told Yahoo News.

The area formerly known as Fraser Island has long been popular with tourists and locals. In the past, visitors have been warned not to do anything wrong – particularly when dealing with dingoes. Now it’s about leaving trash behind.

“We are observing that more and more people are disposing of waste in a targeted manner,” said a spokesman. “K’gari is a World Heritage Site for good reason. We would urge all campers to treat it with the respect it deserves.”

Campers called for trash to be left at the K’gari campsite

The comments are in response to complaints from a man who visited a popular campsite at Awinya Creek on the heritage island over the weekend. He claimed a group of campers intentionally left behind a pile of cheap camping gear they had used before leaving.

Photos posted online show an inflatable mattress, a tarp and seemingly unattended trash bags. Among the pile of discarded items was a sleeping bag cover from Kmart with a person’s name written on it.

The man who had camped there himself claimed he had seen the group “taking photos of the sunset the night before in a white Triton.” The next day they “packed the rest of their things and left.”

The negligent act angered Australians, who called for the perpetrators to be banned for life. The suggestion echoes others previously made following reports of litter at a campsite in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales.

Others fear that some campsites could be closed permanently if things continue like this. “People like that ruin it for the rest of us. So disappointing,” said another.

However, some suggested that the group may not have left and returned. But according to the poster it didn’t look like that.

Campers face a $322 fine if they leave trash behind

Intentionally dumping trash on K’gari is a criminal offense and anyone caught by rangers can be subject to on-the-spot fines of $322.60 and $483 if they “fail to ensure that food is provided.” /Rubbish must be kept safe from dingoes (Wongari)”.

“Abandoning camping equipment constitutes unlawful dumping, which is a criminal offense – it can also pose a fire hazard and pose significant danger to K’gari’s native wildlife,” a DESI spokesperson warned

“Importantly, it also impacts the experience of responsible campers and visitors to our wonderful national parks. It is extremely disappointing to see some people so blatantly disregarding and disrespecting the unique environment of K’gari.”

When visiting K’gari parks and recreation areas, remember your waste:

• When packing, keep unnecessary packaging or items to a minimum.

• Store all leftover food in secure containers at your campsite.

• Use a portable toilet if required by law, or consider using one when camping in areas where there are no toilets.

• Dispose of all general storage waste and toilet waste at official disposal stations.

• Consider taking recyclables home and disposing of them in household trash cans or swap station containers.

• If your camping gear breaks or is no longer needed, please take it home or donate it to appropriate charities.

Growing problem at campsites across Australia

According to friends Liam Fellows and Jack Hall from WA, the problem is widespread. They were driving up the coast when they noticed several vacant campsites and rest stops were closed “due to trash.”

To solve the growing problem, they decided to clean up the trash themselves. “Our goal is to prevent these great places from disappearing from the map and to encourage others to do their part to clean up their legacy,” they said.

Meanwhile, a tour guide recently highlighted the amount of rubbish left behind by caravanners and 4×4 owners who visit some of Queensland’s most remote and popular locations.

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