The thing that takes me back on this thread is the insinuation that it is the backpackers that cause the majority of the problems.
I live in a coastal tourist town and at the moment there can be up to 50 van/wagons/4wd's with mattresses in them parked in the parking area of the foreshore each night, which is right next to the caravan park.
I spend a bit of time down there in the mornings and I can tell you it is not the overseas backpackers that cause the problems, it is the people that come up for 1 or 2 nights because the surf is up or they have 2 days off work. All these people do is throw a mattress in the car/van etc with no other conveniences at all.
The overseas tourist might hang a few clothes on the cars but it is the overnighters that leave the rubbish and crap everywhere as they seem not to care at all. I don't know if it is a case of 'well I'm only here for a night so it can be someone else's worry' . Generally the backpackers like to keep the areas clean and they have the basic facilities to do so, most of there vans are setup enough to act civilized.
sherbert said
08:02 AM Jan 12, 2014
I also agree that leaving rubbish seems to be the norm these days by a lot of people , which is so disappointing as this generation has been brought up with the slogan ( Keep Australia Beautiful ) it actually seems to have not helped . We were staying at a lovely free camp site by the water and after all the day visitors had left we collected 2 bags of rubbish that they had left behind on the ground and their were rubbish bins provided for them to use . Even if there is no bins why can't people take their rubbish with them .. it's not that hard ...i am amazed at the laziness and lack of caring these days by some people ( note ( some people ) . I agree with herbie Leave No Trace . Kind Regards Sherbert .
Big Gorilla said
08:14 AM Jan 12, 2014
george57 wrote:
If you read the article it suggests that there are no toilet facilities in the immediate area, one comment being made is that they had to walk all the way to the train station to go to the toilet. Perhaps we should obtain ALL the facts instead of quickly assuming its the whiz bangers(tourists) etc that are to cause. Reading the article it suggests that perhaps the facilities are not there, and or the area is not properly patrolled by rangers, perhaps more questions should be asked of the council as to why this is allowed to be happening, why aren't they cleaning it up, where are the bins, portable toilets for busy holiday season, if they dont know whats going on in their turf, and acting on it, then it suggests that they are turning a blind eye and blame is a dish quickly served.............
As for thongs nailed into trees......we all need a purpose in life, that which fullfils our existence, herbies seems to be thongs up trees.....fair enough.
Cheers George
-- Edited by george57 on Saturday 11th of January 2014 12:31:10 PM
That's the way I read it George. While there is no excuse for leaving rubbish lying around and using the nearby bush for toilets, and admittedly I haven't seen the area, it sounds like the Council have failed to provide toilet facilities and adequate rubbish bins with regular removal of rubbish. Without these facilities, it only encourages those less responsible people to abuse the area.
NeilandRaine said
04:01 PM Jan 12, 2014
If you know the area it was never meant as a camping area, it has always been an area set aside to be shared with dog walkers etc. The only thing the council failed to do was move them on in the beginning. Just because there is a bit of grass and some sand it doesn't become a camp ground.
How many big cities have free camping in the middle of them, and regardless of what people say the majority at this place are back packers
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:15 PM Jan 12, 2014
NeilandRaine wrote:
How many big cities have free camping in the middle of them,
In Europe? Hundreds of them!
No problem for them to do it, why is it so hard for us?
That's the way I read it George. While there is no excuse for leaving rubbish lying around and using the nearby bush for toilets, and admittedly I haven't seen the area, it sounds like the Council have failed to provide toilet facilities and adequate rubbish bins with regular removal of rubbish. Without these facilities, it only encourages those less responsible people to abuse the area.
How many big cities have free camping in the middle of them, and regardless of what people say the majority at this place are back packers
In Europe? Hundreds of them!
No problem for them to do it, why is it so hard for us?
Cheers,
Peter