THE FILTHY HABIT CLOSING FREE CAMPS
More and more we’re hearing about beautiful free camps closing for good, and this is the number one issue that is threatening our free camps and causing them to shut down – and to be perfectly honest, it shouldn’t even be an issue in the first place!
The illegal dumping of human waste in the middle of free camps and on the side of the road at rest areas – it’s happening more and more and it’s utterly disgusting! Why do people think it’s okay to do this?
These days you pull up to a stunning free camp at the base of a stunning, lush mountain range you step out of your van to a horrific odour and toilet paper strewn across the grass. Not only is dumping your waste like this illegal, it’s ruining the environment and our experience of these unique campsites.
When selfish travellers discard their waste illegally the council’s maintaining these areas have to pay for workers to clean them up, the residents are paying rates to council that are then spent on these sort of clean ups and after a while they get fed up and want the camps closed and I can’t blame them.
Even Graham from 4WD Action is fed up with this kind of behaviour!
When you’re travelling it is your responsibility to have a plan for dump points. You need to make sure the places you are staying have their own dump point or that there is one nearby to dispose of your waste. There’s so many websites and apps these days that let you know exactly where these places are – there really is NO EXCUSE for this laziness!
Now, I’m not saying that the culprits are Aussie vanners, from Graham’s experience on the tracks, it’s clear that this is a bigger problem – but it’s our responsibility if we see someone dumping their cassette on the side of the road or in the middle of camps to say something to them, to take down their number plate and report them to the authorities! Don’t let them get away with this behaviour! It could cost us all in the long run.
It’s revolting, it spreads disease, it ruins the environment and it could cause unique campsites around the country to be closed.
What can we do as a community to solve this problem? Have you seen people illegally dumping their waste? If so, let us know by emailing: [email protected]
