By JONATHON HOWARD
ONE of Australia’s most pristine coastlines from Noosa North Shore to Double Island Point is become a dumping ground for trashy holiday makers.
While the majority of campers do the right thing, a growing number of campers left their campsites strewn with garbage following school holidays and the Labour Day long weekend.
Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast and Parks and Wildlife QLD are now preparing for another weekend garbage collection on the 29 to 30 November and they need more volunteers to help out.
The most disgusting discovery was a portable toilet that was left behind by one camper last year, forcing Surfrider Foundation volunteers and Parks and Wildlife staff to carefully remove the loaded loo.
Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast president Craig Macintyre said rubbish on the North Shore was now a constant problem.
“People really need to see the damage they are causing by leaving their rubbish behind,” he said.
“The impacts can be devastating to wildlife and marine life and without more volunteers it’s becoming difficult to keep on top of.”
Several camp goers have also highlighted “mad drivers” along the beach who are allegedly performing dangerous driving manoeuvres.
“The beach has become a hot destination for boozy weekends,” said one camper, who did not want to be named.
“It used to be a problem, but these days it’s out-of-control.”
The foundation is calling for a legion of volunteers to sign up and help with the clean-up efforts to reduce waste and maintain the coastlines natural beauty.
“Each year Surfrider volunteers give up their time to scour the beach and last year the garbage collection weighed in at two tonnes,” Mr Macintyre said.
To find out more about becoming a Surfrider Foundation volunteer visit: www.surfrider.org.au or email Mr Macintyre: surfridersunshinecoast@gmail.com
