It’s amazing how ingenious some people can be.
No matter how complex the challenge, they will find a way.
Sadly, ingenuity is not always put to good use.
And that is why no square centimetre of beautiful, pristine bushland is safe from ingenious people who don’t have a hint of a social conscience.
This beautiful bushland is on the right hand side of Georges River Road, a couple of hundred metres past the Junction Road roundabout.
Almost exactly opposite Botany Place, someone has created an opening for vehicles by smashing down the bush fence – probably with a 4WD.
And about 30 metres from the road, behind a small rise, is the start of Campbelltown’s newest rubbish tip.
There’s a dumped and rusting car, washing machine and other household items.
It’s obviously not really an official tip, but unless someone acts quickly and repairs the fence others will soon take their garbage there.
It was ironic this morning during my walk to see a council truck driving in the vicinity to collect garbage dumped on the side of the road.
It reminded me that we seem to be a step or two behind the dumpers in dealing with the rubbish epidemic.
Basically, councils seem content to just clean up after the dumpers.
It’s true we are dealing with a tiny minority of people who just don’t give a damn and treat bushland as their personal garbage bin.
But I am not sure that we will ever get serious in catching these people and taking them before the courts.
We need a strategy that involves camera surveillance in rubbish dumping hotspots, legal action combined with substantial fines and, most importantly, an educational awareness campaign in schools.
Teaching our kids the horrible consequences of rubbish dumping for native flora and fauna must be part of primary school education for all kids.
And since a big proportion of dumped rubbish is packaging from popular fast food outlets – you know who you are – how about a tax on them to raise money that can be used to pay for the cost of picking it up.
It will mean that councils will need to work hand in hand with the state and federal governments to fight this insidious assault on the environment.
A lot of money and effort goes into looking after the built environment and the bush deserves the same attention if not more.
That land is Department of Planning and Environment
Sydney Region West I was advised from Campbelltown City Council, NSW