DISCUSSIONS regarding the removal of illegally dumped rubbish at a Riverland national park are ongoing between a local council and the State Government.
Renmark Paringa Council has recently been communicating with the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) regarding the potential clean up of an illegal rubbish dumping site located near the Cooltong Conservation Park.
Renmark-based seasonal worker Scott Timpson – who has been travelling to the Riverland for six years – said dumping issues at the area were well-known throughout the local community.
“It’s been there for years and it’s just starting to break down,” Mr Timpson said.
“Something should be done about it, then they should be proactive to prevent people from littering. They should make people take ownership.
“Everyday there’s two or three new bits of rubbish out there.
“People are paying rates and it’s the local council’s job to service the area and promote good culture.”
Renmark Paringa councillors initially resolved to contact DEW regarding the issue at their June general meeting.
Mr Timpson said rubbish at the site, plus litter at other local areas, was a detriment to the wider community.
“I’m just so surprised by the amount of litter,” he said.
“There’s coffee cups and the plastic lids, a lot of McDonalds bags and lately there’s a lot of KFC boxes.
“I crossed Paringa Bridge and there’s been a KFC box on the footpath at the Paringa side for several days… it’s actually broken now so the plastic contents are on the footpath too.”
Renmark Paringa chief executive officer Tony Siviour said council would meet with DEW staff to discuss removal of rubbish from the Cooltong site.
“We’ve written twice (and) we were already in correspondence prior to that being brought up in council,” Mr Siviour said.
“That illegal dumping is on DEW land so it’s under the care, control and management of DEW.
“We’re going to meet and we’re going to work through how we’re going to address some pretty significant illegal dumping.”
Mr Siviour said further measures could be required to ensure dumping at the site is prevented in the future.
“That is part of a national park area that has had significant illegal dumping in the past, that the government has addressed,” he said.
“Obviously this is a hotspot we’re going to have to address now.”