damned nomads

Well, just from personal experience , when I went to the dump in Derby, there were signs all over the place saying local residents only. I went down the Darling River Road to Menindee and there were big quarantine signs but no bins!

I think many councils are schizophrenic. They want tourists but do not provide any bins for tourists and make it bloody difficult to park with no signs to caravan and trailer parking. When they do have bins they seem to hardly ever empty them.
Why not a sign on the directory that many towns have on how to dump rubbish and oil and recyclables. I cannot recall ever seeing that.

Regards Philip A

Hi Burrra
Some people just don't think (rubbish dumpers that is)

I have come across countless drums way out in the loneliest spots in the desert, hundred of kms from anywhere, with rubbish tied up in neat bags in them. Its almost as if the dumpers think,
"Oh this is a bin the council will come and get it!"

cheers

A simalar issue is the rubbish that is dumped by the ton in the bush. Not only food and drink wrappers and containers but household rubish bags and trailer loads of old cars, whitegoods, asbestos etc.
Took my kids out for a drive near Moore River yesterday and was appauled by what had been dumped. My six year old daughter was extreamly upset and lost as to why somebody would dump rubbish in our bush.
My solution and more relivant to this thread. Put our rates up $100 a year and a leavy on the dole and make tip entry FREE. This would stop morons from dumping and help out our visitors by giving them somewhere to put ther rubbish.
As for dumpers. The fine should be the cost to send out a truck to remove the rubbish and return full, as the truck could then be utilised to fill up on what else is around at there cost.

Regards
Craig

Rubbish disposal is a problem everywhere, regardless of whether you are travelling or not. Tip fees are mostly set way too high and that encourages some to dump along roadsides, in the bush etc. And some disgusting "people" just dont care it seems.

When you are travelling how do you know where the tip is? Its often hidden away on the outskirts of the town somewhere. Councils would do themselves a favour by making sure that there were well signposted and maintained rubbish bins along main roads for tourists to use. And signs giving directions to recycling facilities - how many of us do our own oil changes as we travel and are then faced with the problem of where to get rid of the old oil?

And as tourists we can all do our bit by keeping our rubbish to a minimum.

Cheers,

Val.

Just been on a recent trip to coral bay. The bins in all the parking areas inbetween perth and coral bay are full to overflowing. I think the majority of nomads do the right thing, its the backpackers in their cheap unroadworthy vans that think they are doing the right thing and have no alternative.

wizzer

Gday,
Id be directing your letter to your local council rather than the "Nomads".
Dumps that Ive seen are'nt real caravan friendly and not always open either.
If towns want the tourist dollar they need to supply basic amenities too.
I personal much prefer to see people use bins (even the wrong ones) rather than not use them at all.

Cheers

Tips are often far out of town and hidden. Where do you want me to dump the bit of rubbish we have when travelling in the bush or in your local street? Bins are provided to be used and use we do so the country does not get littered. We only ever have 1/2 a shopping bag full of rubbish and dispose of it in the correct place in the rubbish bin provided for the purpose.

So, if you go through a country and stop at the local bakery and buy a pie, you should not use the local bins to dispose of the paper bag? Is that what you are saying?

If you drive in remote areas and stop a wayside stop for lunch, with toilets and rubbish bins they shouldn't they be used either? Is that what you are saying?

PS I do not have a caravan.

It appears that all the towns want tourism but havent considered the tourists need to dispose of their rubbish easily.. Its not fair they should drive out to the tip to dispose of it.. Michael

I have no idea which "club" you are talking about Burra, but it is true that many Councils do not consider tourists when signing their tips for locals only (or for those with a tip pass which only go to ratepayers). Is the option clear to them? Are they staying at this "club"?

What really annoys me is the number of "disposable" baby nappies dumped at roadsides and in the bush near the road. Who is doing that? The vast majority of Nomads are not travelling with babies. A lot of the rubbish is take away food packaging too - not the normal fare of the Nomad generation.

I have seen a group of European backpackers pile their bags of rubbish - lots of bulky takeaway food packets, cool drink bottles etc, beside an already overflowing bin in a free camp (they had been staying there some time when we arrived). Local Council had them evicted because of this during our stay, and after that the bin was not even filled after a few days with a lot of travelling campers coming through. They may not have been typical of the young tourists from overseas.

Many of us will look for a bin at a rest area, and if it is full, will move on without dumping. We make very little rubbish when caravanning - even less than when at home. After all, what do we have to throw out? - no mail, junk mail, not much packaging, only the odd baked beans can, plastic wrap, used tissues and flattened UHF milk cartons - about one "grocery bag" a week - now no-one should begrudge that in a Council bin.

Motherhen