Queensland rangers are dealing with a crappy situation … literally
Queensland’s national parks are facing a crappy problem, so rangers are urging visitors to stop leaving unpleasant surprises in the bush.
By Jessica Palmer,
July 31, 2024
Queensland’s national parks are facing an unsightly problem, and rangers are urging visitors to stop leaving unpleasant surprises in the bush. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers constantly have to clean up after visitors during their regular patrols and maintenance work.
Ranger in Charge Lindie Pasma highlighted that bush toileting is a widespread issue in central Queensland’s national parks. It is not only visually undesirable but also a potential source of pollution. Toilet facilities are available in many camping areas and at the beginning of numerous walking tracks. However, facilities are scarce on long hikes through protected areas. When nature calls, people need to go in nature.
“Rangers are asking visitors to our national parks to keep the environment clean by following a few basic guidelines,” Ranger Lindie said.
Here’s what you can do to help
Ranger Lindie advises hikers to carry a small shovel to bury their waste at least 15cm deep or 50cm deep in sandy areas. “It helps keep the area clean for all users, reduces the number of flies and doesn’t attract other animals such as dingoes,” she explained, adding that “toilet paper left scattered on the ground is littering, and it can pollute the environment. It can also be a fire hazard.”
Ranger Lindie also emphasized the importance of staying away from creeks or rivers when answering nature’s call. “Where possible, human waste should be bagged along with all personal hygiene products and disposable nappies. They can then be taken from the park for appropriate disposal in rubbish bins,” she said.
Several popular locations in the region are prone to bush toileting, including the Battleship Spur lookout on the Carnarvon Great Walk, which offers stunning views over the Carnarvon Gorge. Other affected areas include beach camping sites and the Freshwater day-use area in Byfield National Park, Lonesome Lookout in Expedition National Park, and the Salvator Rosa and Ka Ka Mundi sections of Carnarvon National Park.
“We’re asking people to go before they go on a long walk or hike and to protect the natural and cultural values of our parks by cleaning up after themselves,” Ranger Lindie concluded.
By adhering to these guidelines, visitors can help preserve the pristine beauty of Queensland’s national parks for everyone to enjoy.
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Re: QLD Crappy situation
We’re just back from 4 month van trip north thru central Aus, down west coast, then east to home at Newy.
Unfortunately we found similar, especially at roadside free camps with no toilets.
I don’t understand why people choose to crap in their own nest, literally metres their campsite, when they could walk a few more metres into the bush, dig a hole and bury it.
Piles of poop and paper in the foreground of views is just…. disgusting.
Rumour is backpackers are the culprits, but I’m not so sure. Just lazy people with no respect for others, or the environment? Or afraid of snakes?
I reckon education is the solution.
Maybe BIG signs with diagrams, in multiple languages?
Instructions provided in car rental contracts? (Shovel supplied?)
We were fortunate to have an onboard cassette toilet, however there were still situations where a walk in the scrub with a shovel were still required.
To their credit, WA provides toilets at most road side camps, and dump points.
The only issue we found is the dump points were a level platform, rather than the conical ones were used to, and no rinse water is provided.
So the cassette contents don’t wash down the drain hole, but sit there proud and stinky. Is pretty gross.
Maybe WA roads could retrofit them with conical platforms?
Hope this informs fellow travellers.
National parks need to provide some sort of waste disposal system for rubbish. A lot of people doing long term travelling aren’t simply just going home after visiting a park and the rubbish builds up over time. Often near national parks where people have been camping the council bins are over flowing with rubbish dumped or rubbish is left behind in parks. A user pays waste dump at park entrances with say a $5 dollar charge to access with pay wave I believe would help alleviate waste being left behind.