Happy campers' putrid mess!

Stuart writes:
On a recent trip to Big River, above Lake Eildon, I was appalled at the stinking rubbish left behind by some of the camping fraternity (and possibly occasional fisher-folk). There are no bins in this area and it is a take-away rubbish zone. In one of the camping spots I saw piles of garbage and in another some idiot had attempted to bury their waste near the river - although foxes or feral cats had started digging it up.

As always, I picked up some small items like beer cans, etc., but I wasn't able to clear this mess.

On other occassions I've been moving my way up rivers to more remote spots only to find rubbish left where people were obviously fishing - the tell-tale Y-stick, remains of campfires, etc.

The problem we have is: us freshwater anglers are often labelled as doing these types of things. The evidence is compelling. We need to band together with environmentalists to stamp out this sort of stupidity in our wonderful bushlands. More importantly, we need to be responsible anglers with a strong commitment to our environment. Equally, Dept of Natural Resources and Environment and Parks Victoria need to be able to police and fine these reprobates.

Anglers, we can do our bit by ensuring left-over line, drink containers, cigarette buts and any other rubbish we create (including fish guts, dead carp, etc.) is taken with us and disposed of properly. This way at least, we can sleep easy and know we've done our bit.

(21 February 2002)


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