Tourists blasted after 'disgusting' $350 act causes closure of free campground
Locals have condemned the the behaviour witnessed at the popular campground over the weekend.
It only took one day and 300 visitors to completely upend a free campground this weekend, with the popular state forest location left with rubbish strewn across grassy areas and the river and public bathrooms trashed. Emergency services were even called after fears over campfires on the hot day.
Coopers Creek, situated a short day-trip drive away from Melbourne at just under 180 kilometres on the Thomson River, is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. And appears many took the chance to visit the campground and enjoy the hot weather before the end of the Christmas holiday.
However, the state in which the public space was left in was so "disgusting" that the campground has been forced to schedule a shutdown so locals can go in and sort the place out — and it's left some furious.
"I've lived in Gippsland for 25 years, I haven't been out to Coopers Creek in years and when we did [this weekend] we witnessed all that," a local man told Yahoo News Australia. "I actually had no idea this has been going on for so long, apparently during the holidays it's like that.
"I'm stunned about it to be honest."
Locals 'can't enjoy own backyard' as clean up effort scheduled
Images capturing the aftermath of the weekend, and shared with Yahoo, show water bottles and beer cans floating along the river, camp chairs dumped near campfire remnants, and litter throughout the campground.
It's reported the campsite was so packed that a day visitors struggled to find a park and were later stuck in a traffic jam at the car park.
Online, locals were dismayed by the incident but admitted they have simply stopped visiting the area as people heading over from Melbourne don't treat the area with respect.
"As a local I just don't go. [It's a] waste of time," one wrote online, while another said people should "stay in the city if you can't respect the bush".
"This is why the locals can't enjoy their own backyard," another local said.
The local man told Yahoo News there is a scheduled "clean up crew" which is mostly made up of locals who plan to get together and clean up the area on Sunday, January 12.
"I'm going to go out there and help," he said.
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Visitors face $385 fine for illegal act at free campground
Those who deliberately leave their rubbish behind in any public space in Victoria can cop a $385 fine, under the Environment Protection Authority. While fines differ between states and jurisdictions, the act of littering is considered illegal in every part of the country and incurs a fine.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) was made aware of the "littering and disrespectful behaviour" at Coopers Creek and has urged visitors to any Victorian public place to treat it with respect.
"DEECA urges all visitors to Coopers Creek and similar recreational sites to respect the environment and the shared facilities," a spokesperson told Yahoo News. "It is vital that all users take responsibility for their actions and leave the site as they found it, ensuring that they take their rubbish home with them. This includes not only general waste but also items like food wrappers and used nappies."
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