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Submitted by blownaway on Wed, 17/02/2010 - 11:47am.
I travel all over NZ and over recent years DOC has removed
many picnic/camping areas which also had toilets and rubbish
collection.
Travel from Wanaka to Haast and watch all those in cars who
have left their accommadation.They stop behind bushes when
nature calls because the toilets are no longer available. I
remember several areas right on the roadside that encouraged
one to stop and use the toilets at picnic areas. Most are
gone now so of course problems arise. As well, many councils
are committed to zero waste and have been cleverly removing
rubbish bins in their area so they can say they are saving
money and are getting greener.
We also have seen truck drivers,couriers and other
contractors attend to calls of nature out in our "Clean Green
NZ" countryside. Surely they should at least be seen trotting
off with a trowel in hand as good kiwi trampers were taught
to do.
I think the provision of long drops in rest areas at better
intervals would help the problem. Perhaps even a campaign
allied to the servicestations would assist too. Free small
rubbish bags could be dished out to travellers so they could
pop them into the next service station they visit.(Many
provide dump sites and free rubbish collection for vehicles
alongside their other services).
Dont blame it all on the campervans, as many others travel
and enjoy our beautiful country.
Submitted by waynewhoever on Mon, 15/02/2010 - 4:33pm.
Why ban campervans? If the only problem is the defecating in
the bush and leaving rubbish behind then shouldn't the Otago
Conservation Board or some appropriate local body build some
toilets and supply some rubbish tins? The problem is so
simple to fix. All that is needed is some 44 gallon drums,
timber, roofing iron and a bit of imagination.
I am all for supporting the ban of campervans. In my
experience, as a surfer living on the South Otago coast, I
frequently surf at many obscure breaks along the coast from
Blackhead to Taieri Mouth. This area is a breeding ground for
freedom campers, who park up and camp in the laybys by these
surf breaks where they defaecate there, and leave their
rubbish.
It is disgusting to be getting changed into my wetti and step
back into human faeces,and be surrounded by their stinking
rubbish. I have watched many leave their vans in the morning
and squat in the bushes, or drive off with tied bags of
rubbish thrown in the dunes.
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