Travellers risk $3,635 fine with brazen act at popular Aussie campground: 'Shameless'
Despite a direct plea on New Year's Eve, non-compliance from some campers continues to waste 'thousands in resources'.
It's a simple rule, but many domestic tourists continue to flout it. For the many thousands of Australians and overseas visitors spending time in campgrounds over the summer period, rangers continue to implore all visitors to adhere to one basic directive: Leave no trace.
Sadly, it's something that continues to be ignored by a minority of campers and caravaners. One traveller on Friday morning shared a disappointing scene left behind by his neighbour at the Granthams Bend Camping Area on the Murray River in Victoria.
The camper Paul Athens awoke to find the campers had absconded in the middle of the night, leaving behind a large tarp, camping gear and bags of rubbish by the river.
Paul said he had earlier shared his water and fridge with the campers, and boiled water to make them coffee. He also said he lent them $110 "for food and grog" after they gave him a "sob story".
"They left after 8 pm... They were in a hurry to get out of here with my money," he told Yahoo News.
In the end, Paul took their dumped items and rubbish in his car and disposed of it all in a bin in nearby Corowa, he said.
🥾Incredible photo highlights 'dangerous' national park mistake
🐸 Smart garden device helping Aussies win war against 'invader'
The seasoned camper, who is an administrator of an Aussie Facebook group 'Everything Caravan & Camping', shared the story online this morning, attracting hundreds of comments in just a couple of hours. Understandably, other campers condemned the act, labelling the offenders "shameless".
"What is wrong with people? Disgraceful! The type that ruin it for every other decent person," one person wrote,
"Yes this is today's world. Bunch of users," another said.
"On the plus side that's a ripper of a camp spot. Unfortunately these type of people ruin it for others," one camper agreed.
Rangers spend 'valuable time' dealing with dumped rubbish
Paul told Yahoo the popular camping area at Granthams Bend was very busy over the Christmas break while he was there. "A lot (of people) before Christmas, most have left over the last few days," he said Friday.
The issue of campers not cleaning up after themselves continues to dog local authorities. Parks Victoria was forced to issue another plea on New Year's Eve, urging visitors to make sure they cleaned up after themselves.
"Our rangers dedicate hours of valuable time and thousands in resources picking up after others," officials said.
"Please take care of parks this festive season and don’t dump your rubbish in parks and reserves.
"Illegal dumping harms people, wildlife and the environment and makes these special places less enjoyable to visit."
According to the state's Conservation Regulator, fines for general littering of $3,635 can be issued to campers doing the wrong thing. And if the material is deemed to be environmentally hazardous or dangerous, fines of up to $10,904 can be dished out.
It's long been an issue that has animated Yahoo readers. In October, one grey nomad travelling with his wife in their campervan through Western Australia lamented the amount of rubbish they see along popular campgrounds and 4WD tracks, saying "there were nowhere near as many people on the road" 20 years ago.
"I know for a fact that other people might not be so considerate and they dump it somewhere or try to bury it," he told Yahoo.
"Even if it's really an inconvenience, you have to take your junk with you."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
