Campers blasted after illegal act on Aussie beach attracting $322 fine: 'Don't come back'
The once 'pristine' 4WD beach was covered with litter left by inconsiderate campers.
Tourists have been blatantly told "do not ever come back" to a popular 4WD beach after a dozen bags of rubbish were found scattered along the sand and in grassy areas. Chezy Kassanne told Yahoo News she regularly visits Coongul Creek on K'Gari, formerly Fraser Island, with her family, and her kids made the discovery over the weekend.
"I was very shocked at the quantity of the rubbish. The bags had been torn open by dingoes and birds, and plastic was blowing around everywhere," Chezy said. "We couldn't understand why someone would just leave it there with no regard for the environment, wildlife and other people who go to experience this beautiful place."
In the rubbish bags were beer bottles, soft drink bottles, paper plates, disposable drinking cups and a whole raft of other discarded waste. It appeared the "grubs" responsible had tidied their rubbish into bin bags but simply dumped them when they left the area.
Family forced to tidy after campers 'deliberately leave rubbish'
Chezy and her family were forced to tidy up the mess, rebagging the litter and dragging the twelve bags of rubbish back to the mainland.
"Do not ever come back, you don't deserve to appreciate what a beautiful place this is, or how lucky you were to enjoy it... People who deliberately leave their rubbish anywhere in my opinion don’t deserve to visit beautiful pristine environments," she said.
Visitors face $322 for illegal act on popular Aussie beach
Littering is becoming an "increasingly common issue" as more Aussies take up camping, authorities told Yahoo News. The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) is warning campers that leaving your waste behind is illegal and "on-the-spot fines start at $322".
"Pack to minimise rubbish and take all rubbish with you when you leave," a DETSI spokesperson said ahead of the Christmas rush. "Camping over the holidays should be fun and enjoyable for everyone. In a shared space, it is important to be mindful of those around you – this includes cleaning up after yourself."
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