The Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club joined in with volunteers at over 8000 registered sites right across the country to participate in the annual Clean Up Australia Day Campaign last weekend.
What started 30 years ago by an “average Australia bloke” Ian Kiernan, who had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard, has now become the nation’s largest community-based environmental event.
Over the last three decades, more than 17.7 million Australians have donated their time as part of Clean Up Australia Day activities.
The Burrum Coast National Park, and in particular the Kinkuna camping Zone, was our main area targeted again this year as well as the main access tracks into the park.
In conjunction with the Department of Environment and Science Rangers and the Bundaberg Regional Council, who had once again set up a skip bin close to the area for our use, thirteen vehicles of enthusiastic members picked up an estimated six cubic meters of rubbish from along the beach and camp zone.
The group found various items amongst the trees and along the beach, including sheets of corrugated iron, loads of loose bottles and cans, tyres, broken chairs, assorted bits of broken camping gear.
Being about 35km from Bundaberg, having campsites at the waters edge and set amongst the she oaks, the area is popular with many four wheel drivers.
Close proximity and easy access proves to be a lure to numerous day trippers and campers alike.
The downfall is that a minor number of users insist on doing the wrong thing by leaving rubbish behind.
Forward planning for a day out or camp trip would lead to less rubbish needing to be carried home, for example:
- Remove all the plastic wrap and cartons that a lot of food stuffs come encased in these days, before you pack for your trip.
- Use aluminum cans so they can be crushed and recycled.
- Use less glass containers so the chance of breakage is minimized, and if fires are permitted, burn the combustible materials in a controlled manner.
The irresponsible element that insists on throwing glass in fires leads to small fragments being dispersed in the sand, not only making it near impossible to pick up, but unable to be seen and can easily be stood on by others once the camp has moved on.
The camp zone has no facilities so disposal of bodily waste is something that everyone needs to consider when using the park.
Once again, the items that stood out the most was the amount of toilet paper thrown on the ground, and baby wipes strewn through the back tracks of the campsites.
Your toilet waste needs to be dealt with properly!
Take a shovel and bury your waste, better still take a portable toilet and dispose of the contents at the many dump points available.
Remember if you carry your gear in you can carry it out. Such actions would go a long way to keeping popular areas like Kinkuna open and in the pristine state it should be, for all to enjoy.
To find out more on the Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club and activities we have on, contact us via email at info@bundaberg4wdclub.com, the website www.bundaberg4wdclub.com or catch us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
Brad Praed
Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club
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