Thoughts on a simpson cleanup

Andrew

There is a ' Friends of ther Simpson ' group working through National Parks.

Maybe you could contact them and put forward your ideas.

Cheers

Gees Andrew, I might have had my eyes closed when coming through in April but I can't remember seeing anything much at all, and it really annoys me to see it. Perhaps I went through too early in the season?? Where did you read about it, where did littering occur etc? JD

I have a vague recollection of an attempted Exploroz Simpson cleanup a year or two ago and it fell through. As Willem said, Friends of The Simpson do the odd cleanup of major rubbish, but they are a small group of volunteers, whose energies should not be wasted on having to do too many cleanups.

I don't think rubbish is a major issue out there. There are rubbish dumps at Dalhousie and Birdsville. Its just the dumb minority on the major routes who leave the odd can, bottle and toilet paper lying around. That problem is controlled by education (slow process) and by everyone else, picking up a bit of extra rubbish where we see it, and dumping it when we call into the rubbish dumps.

im crossing the simpson shortly, our general policy is to keep rubbish bags in the back and pick up what rubbish we find and can manage. it generally gets tossed on the rack to rattle all the way home.

nothing s*%^'s me more than people heading out to such beautiful places and having the ignorance to leave rubbish behind.

if we all take a little bit out it makes a difference ;-)

I agree with all thats been said already. If Exploroz members can do their bit it will help and serve as a model for others. In our travels the two areas that have been worst have the been the OTL - particularly the Gunshot area and the Old Ghan railway track where we spent a good hour just picking up bottles and cans.

Peter

Just been in the Simpson mid-June and was surprised how little rubbish there was - except for toilet tissue at Simpson Desert National Park sign on eastern entrance to the SD, right on northern side of track, was even hidden - there was also a bag of rubbish (large bag) which looked as though it had been dropped on the same day we travelled. There was also a number of Fruche tubs (3 at each drop) along the QAA line (also fresh - possibly motorbikes??).
The Friends of the Simpson do a massive clean-up each year and could always do with more help.
For anyone coming west to east out of the Simpson Desert, remember the first place you come past on your way into Birdsville is the Rubbish Tip - just as you get onto the bitumen on your left hand side is the sign post - open 24/7. Much easier to go in there and drop your rubbish off immediately than be tempted to put it in the wheelie bins at the Pub or caravan park - very annoying, believe me, for the owners of both establishments. Birdsville doesn't have an everyday rubbish pick-up - it has to be done by the owners.
It constantly amazes me that people can just drop rubbish (big or little) out there. My estimation is that in 10 years the SD (this year) is the cleanest I have ever seen it. Well done to all who have travelled, so far. Will do another check in the next few weeks.