Rangers annoyed at increased levels of dumping in ACT National Parks

Staff at the ACT Parks and Conservation Service are growing increasingly concerned at the amount of time and resources that they are having to devote cleaning up rubbish and little in the the Territory’s National Parks.

The staff are concerned that the level of rubbish and litter found in open space areas, which also puts water resources at risk, is growing ever year and cleaning it up was now taking up about half of their day.

In some instances - where people push cars and other large items down ravines, making them more difficult to access - field officers had to spend thousands of dollars to remove them.

ACT National Parks Ranger Brandon Galpin said that money, which came out of their standard operating budget, could be better spent on new walking trails or picnic tables for campgrounds.

Telling the ABC that it was particularly "needless" and "frustrating" to see bigger items dumped in national parks, Galpin advised “we have great recycling and rubbish collection from our homes in Canberra.

"We also have lots of great centres where we can take rubbish, often for free, and sometimes we can even get cash back for it.

"So to see rubbish out here in these beautiful locations, it's frustrating to consider why someone would come out here and disrespect it."

Galpin advised that it was not just big items being dumped that were cause for concern, adding “from day to day we'll be travelling along the road and see general waste that gets tossed out of cars as they're travelling past.

"Things like drink cans, water bottles and chip packets."

ACT National Parks Field Officer Marty Bajt said park staff routinely found more dangerous items, including used needles, close to playgrounds and picnic areas.

He explained how staff carefully check dumped items, like two couches found in Namadgi National Park, for needles before being able to remove them.

Bajt said the dumping, and especially torching, of vehicles near rivers, not only damaged the environment, but could put Canberra's drinking water at risk.

He advised “these cars are still full of oil, asbestos is still used in brake pads.

"We need to be mindful of all these hazards, so we don't have leakages and outbreaks going into our waterways."

Galpin and Bajt emphasised they said they wanted people to come enjoy and see the ACT's national parks, but warned them to take their rubbish with them.

Image: Namadgi National Park.

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