Environment

Find out what's happening in your part of the woods!

Clean Up Australia

MyOrg's clean up Austraila Day is 365 days of the year, but who's counting. Next time you see a piece of litter in the natural environment - pick it up! You will be well rewarded, not to mention you will be passing the gift of a clean environment onto the next person that passes your way.

Latest Act of National Park Vandalism

It's getting rather crazy out there. Do these kids or young adults have parents or are they from dysfunctional families? We have seen it all too often up and down our rail corridors, and now, it appears that the national parks are their next frontier.

These two pieces of graffiti have been sprayed onto beautiful rocky outcrops in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park beside the track leading down to Apple Tree Bay from Mount Kuring-gai.

It's worth noting that the second piece of graffiti 'FATEL' has been graffitied for the past several years around the Hornsby district. It would probably indicate that the person would be a young adult, unless of course they started their graffiti rampage when in early to mid primary school.

If the authorities were to get a little bit more pro-active, it would not be too difficult in tracking down the culprits, prosecuting them, then having them made to clean their mess.

It's Turning Into A Circus

Once beautiful places to visit, both Munmorah State Conservation Area and Wallerah National Park are now becoming a national disgrace through acts of environmental vandalism.

Does anyone out there care? We have the National Park Authority and Police who take little notice when the general public report environmental crimes in national parks. We write reports which we have supported by photographic evidence, and we personally don't mind taking the day off work to go to court so that these vandals can be dealt with.

So, what's the problem, none really, other than those who should be upholding the law don't really want to do their jobs that they are being paid to do.

For your safety.

It is recommended the next time you visit either of these parks that you;

1. Wear safety glasses to avoid eye damage from the mud being thrown up from these vehicles when they illegally travel past.

2. When walking down the steep inclines we recommend your wear gum boots fitted with crampons.

3. Roping your party together will add extra safety in case one of your party members takes a serious fall in the wet, muddy slippery conditions.

4. When you get home, be sure to soak your muddy clothes to avoid permanent mud stains.

Note: These drivers are also very confrontational and aggressive, avoid at all cost. But, don't forget to have an enjoyable day if at all possible.

Fishermans Beach

The Beach to Go To For Your Holiday Camping, And It Is Dog Friendly:

Red tape, incompetence, or is it our public servants just don’t wont to serve anymore for the good of our community and environment.

Over the years there has been many times where I have corresponded with them, and on this occasion it is the National Parks (Ku-ring-gai). I recall recent time when I was jogging along the Gibberagong track and nearly took my eye out from part of a broken branch. On reporting it to NP they said it would take around 3weeks to have it looked at which wasn't really good enough, so I said I will come down and cut the 150mm piece off the branch which was causing a safety concern for walkers.

Do you know what the answer was….? Flatly denied. Mind you, the hazard was only 5minutes up the track where many visitors take a walk or a jog.

Anyway, during the Easter break I said I can help out by reporting illegal campers, fires and dogs on beaches in the National Park etc.

As per my conversation with Parks, I rang the Water Police who said they would drop round and check out if there is any illegal camping taking place. They asked how I knew the campers had stayed overnight, well I think the multiple tents, mattresses and sleeping bags was going to be a dead giveaway. Sadly, the Water Police had a no show and the campers comfortably stayed over at Fishermans Beach for a second night, while during that day dogs came ashore to have their usual crap on the beach. Once again and for the second time in as many weeks, our day out turned out to be a day for disposing of two dog droppings and a load of unsightly human excrement.

To help try and avoid this problem, I have previously said to National Parks that I am available to help out through consultation in improving this situation for the betterment of all, but like in the past, organising a meeting with National Parks is as difficult as holding your breath underwater for two hours.

Article by: Greg Williams, Environment & Conservation Officer