Bushwalkers urged to be more considerate about where they poo and how they clean it up
ABC CapricorniaBy Ellie Willcox
Posted 5h ago, updated 4h ago
(O) (A)
Hikers are being urged to toilet more responsibly in Queensland.(ABC Northern Tasmania: Sarah Abbott)
In short:
Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers say people are not pooing responsibly in the bush.Human waste can create environmental hazards and end up in waterways.
What's next?
People are being urged to carry a shovel to bury their waste responsibly and use the loo before they set off.Queensland park rangers having to clean up "minefields" from people soiling pristine national parks are urging visitors to pack a shovel and stop leaving human waste in the bush.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger-in-charge at Carnarvon Gorge Lindie Pasma said bush toileting was prevalent in central Queensland but, if not done responsibly, could be harmful to the environment.
She said she routinely had to clean up unpleasant piles during patrols and maintenance work.
"It's not our favourite part of the job," she said.
"They are going right beside walking tracks and lookouts, within the creek margins, which is unpleasant for other visitors but can also cause pollution in the creek itself.
"We do receive a lot of complaints from the other tourists who are coming into those campgrounds and are having to dodge some minefields."
Preparation essential
Ms Pasma said toilet facilities were provided at Carnarvon, but hikers on long walks should bring a shovel to bury their waste at least 15cm deep if they got stuck, or bag it and carry it out of the park."When you've got to go, you've got to go — we do understand that but probably a little bit of thinking before you go and preparation would make it much easier," she said.
Winter is peak hiking season in Queensland.(Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife)
In Tasmania, rangers are encouraging people to consider using poo pots, which are sealable tubes, no bigger than a drink bottle, used to carry out human waste, rather than dig a hole.
Human waste takes around 12 months to decompose, and longer in cooler temperatures.
Carnarvon Gorge tour guide Michelle Whitehouse said with peak hiking season underway in Queensland, it was a major issue.
She said human waste and toilet paper were not just unsightly but could also pollute waterways and walking tracks.
"It's not unusual to find piles of toilet paper just centimetres from the main walking track and same with actual waste, soiled underwear — all sorts of different gross encounters have been found at Carnarvon Gorge by myself and rangers," she said.
"One of the first observations that most visitors make when we cross the creek is how beautiful and clear the water is and their first question is, 'Surely this should be safe to drink?'
"When I start explaining how many feral pigs and evidently how many feral humans there are using the national park as well, they have a second thought."
Rangers want hikers to avoid polluting these picturesque sites.(Supplied: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service)
Ms Whitehouse urged visitors to use the loo before setting off on a long walk and, if need be, clean up.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife has also urged people to take all personal hygiene products with them, including nappies and period products.
