Human Waste Management on Stockton Beach

Could be that they're syaing something like...'user pays and pays and pays and pays.....etc'

Wayne

obviously their's doesn't stink!!!

tessa

If you go trekking in the Snowies the same rules apply ..carry 'it' out. People take Woolies bags and ..that's the way it happens. Other option is ..'it' everywhere! There are more and more people gong to Stockton every year and the stuff just doesn't disappear.
If you love the wilderness, be prepared to take responsibility for it. Especially if you're making your living out of it!
On our last trip to the red centre we were just disgusted with the amount of toilet paper blowing around in the freebies, and we were more than a little concerned about where to set our tent at some of these sites.
I would expect that professional tour operators would be the first to encourage conservation of the bush.

Gday Wayne,

I agree with what you say.
If they are taking money, and the area is suffering from people pressure, its their responsibility to construct some self-composting toilets.

I'm sympathetic to tagalongs - seems to me to be a hard way to make a $. Margins are not good for the hours you guys put in. Rules should be the same for any vehicle.

Cheers
Phil

Wayne

Maybe you will have to tow an ATCO Portable Toilet behind the lead vehicle. Remember to lower the tyre pressures though :-)



Cheers

Might be an opening for a local business to put a portaloo or two on the back of a truck!!

Wayne,

"When asked why NPWS can't build toilets on either end of the beach the reply was "it would be too hard".
With no other infrastructure or roads and tracks to maintain what do they do with the permit fees?"

You're not suggesting that the gummint is taking that money and putting it into their coffers. They wouldn't do that, just look at the speed camera's, they are there to save lives??? hahahahahaha

Mate, I'm with you on this, if one has to do it, then all should have to do it.

But now might be a good time to buy some shares in the porta potti makers.

Cheers Greg

I would have thought most accredited tour opperators would have already been carting all human waste out of popular areas that didn't have permenant toilets by now anyway. It doesn't really matter what mess others are making, leading companys or clubs for that matter should be showing by example. It's not that difficult to strap a porta loo on the roof rack & carry a pop tent which can be errected in a few minutes at key stops. If rafters on 2 week tours of the Franklin river can cart out all human waste why can't 4 wheel drivers on a day or weekend trip?
"should the same rules apply to 4WD clubs and the general public??" Initially clubs & individuals should be encouraged to carry out what they carry in & if the mess doesn't improve, Yes everyone should carry a portaloo.
As the vast majority of your Parks fees is swallowed up in red tape to administer tour opperator permits it comes as no surprise that they have nothing to spend when it comes time for facilities. NSW have always been backwards in the the user pays system for Parks. If everyone gets charged to use the place the least they should supply is a few toilets in the busy areas, but still no reason not to look after the place until they're built.
Cheers Craig..............

hi

Im so sick of hearing of people like the NPWS cant do this and cant do that
why dont they build a bloody toilet it not that hard
i have never heard so much bulls**t in my life and tell me this isnt s**t biogradeable so take some matches and burn the paper bingo no problem
but better yet take some plastic lined post packs with you do it in them and then post them to the NPWS now thats a idea
that would give some pen pusher a job for life
it would be better that sitting around making up rules that dont make sence

Glenn....

You do have a raw deal on this one, don't you? Why do your trips command such a deadhead deal from the NPWS I wonder ?
Did Vic get up someone's nose over there?
If you can't set up an enclosure, and you have to remove the waste, how are you supposed to do it?
"Dunnies on the dunes" doesn't exactly inspire one, does it ?
I know what I'd do. I'd contact them and ask them how they suggest that you do it.
Perhaps they're just using your mob as a test case for all who follow?

I don't have a problem and I don't think anyone else would have a problem with commercial operators being charged to use public land for any use whether it be to take paying passengers on a day trip or film a segment for publicity.
They are using public facilities for commercial gain. Whether they make a lot or just cover costs is their problem.

Gday,
I dont know the area you are talking about but this is what i see in the Centre.
I think what they are saying is there is too much crap being left behind!
Why? Because a lot more people are probably going there.
Why are more people going there?...probably because it is easier to get there. You now dont have to be a keen 4wd enthusiast or walker, you can just hop on a tour. So who is going to suffer? the person makeing a quid out of the area and taking the extra people in there.
I dont think anyone is saying you dirtier than anyone else or your turds are stinkier, just that your encourging more people who in turd leave a bigger mound.

When the days were old and the nights were bold
And toilets werent invented
You'd drop your load
In the middle of the road and walk off quite contented.
(but not leave 10km of crap wrap trailing behind)

Cheers

Wayne isn't there a 'group' or association for the tour operators that use Stockton, does GDT belong to that group, maybe if it doesn't it should as they will probably have this issue sorted as they have their livelihood and business at stake unlike GDT where it is only one place they go.

Dear Wayne,
I suggest that maybe you get your facts straight before spreading in correct information about what the regulations of use are for the Worimi Conservation Lands (Stockton Bight).

I am not sure whether you have been part of any of the discussions that myself and my staff have had with the Stockton Bight Dune Tour Operators Association over the last 5 years as a lead up to the hand back of Stockton Bight to its Worimi Aboriginal Tradtional Owners and Co-management agreement with the NSW NPWS.

We have been talking to tour operators indicating what fees and regulations would apply to commercial tour operators for a long time.

Our philosophy in relation to commercial tour operators is as I am glad to see some other respondents have picked up on, that Commercial tour operators as professionals should be setting the standard and leading by example to the rest of park visitors in relation to managing environmental impacts, such as human waste disposal, sustainable use and a minimum impact philosophy to their business.

If you were at our last meeting with the Stockton Beach Dune Operators Association some 2 weeks ago you would have heard me say that we (NPWS) are working towards the provision of public toilet facilities at key locations on the Worimi Conservation Lands such as the Lavis Lane and Gan Gan Rd entrances but this was not a total solution to the waste issue on a 32km beach and dune system, the aquifer of which is the emergency domestic water supply for Newcastle and the Hunter.

By the way this $250K project of supply public toilets will be funded by revenue generated from both the beach vehicle permit applied to all users and the fees paid by commercial operators as those running a business and generating an income of Aboriginal Owned leased back to the public - public lands.

You would have also heard me say that this requirement to carry a portable self contained toilet system that is being applied to all commercial tour operators running tours of over 2 hours duration will also be applied to the general public as well as my own staff. (We are awaiting the arrival of our PETT Wag bag systems). The information about this system and anumber of other waste systems had been supplied to operators at previous meetings

Our first move in applying this requirement across the board has been informing campers encountered over this summer that the requirement for a self contained portable toilet system will be a requirement via regulation in the future, as well as incorporating this information in the new brochure which was released for the Worimi Conservation Lands just prior to Xmas.

In relation to the issue of shelters or toilet structures you are off the mark here as well. It was advised to all operators that erection of permanent or semi permanent structures on the lands is illegal. An issue that had cropped up in relation to tour operators in the past. We also outlined at the meetings and encapsulated in the license/consent that any excavation to erect a temporary structure by an operator would require site inspection and specific approval from NPWS before it was to occur to avoid impact on significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites such as burials, middens etc which are scattered throughout the dune system.The issue was that some operators were proposing excavation for temp structures as part of their activities.

In relation to temporary shade structures, pop up toilet shelters etc. it was advised at the meeting that there was not an issue, as long as common sense was applied and they were not erected on midden material, shell accumulations or dune vegetation.

I hope that this sets the record straight for yourself and the readers of this thread.

I believe that these management actions are moves towards turning Stockton Bight from what was essentially a lawless landscape with its cultural and natural and heritage values rapidly in decline due to abuse by ignorant and un caring visitors into a conservation reserve that we and future generations can be proud of,and acknowledging and respecting the areas Aboriginal Traditional Owners rather than just a 'new manager flexing his muscles.'

I would suggest that if you need to clarify issues that you either check out the information on the Worimi Conservation Lands on the NSW NPWS website or contact myself at the Hunter Region Office on 02 49848200.

Regards

Rob Gibbs
Area Manager
Hunter Coast Area

Does not help the OP - but you can buy cheap 20 litre toilets on ebay - i got mine on there for about $50 + delivery expect to pay double if not triple that if your looking for a brand name one -- and the brand name ones i have seen are the exact same one but with there own sticker on it ( in shops)

Yes there are LOTS or rangers on Stockton beach now -- in peak days - i have seen 4 rangers ( 2 vehicles) and i even seen a Police car today!! which is good to see :), i see a lot of bitching and moaning about the measly $30 fee , Im happy to pay it if i see the rangers and police more frequently out there making sure its not a free for all...

I am happy that they want people to take there own waste out with them - the rubbish is bad enough , without having to worry about were the kids dig in the sand and what they might find !!!

On the rubbish aspect - place is getting dirtier every time i visit, We had some spare space in our rubbish bag , so i sent the kids out to collect as many bottle as they could find in the near by area - ( within 50 mtrs of camp site ) they came back with almost40 bottles --- to we took them off the beach and back to the bin at anna bay end ......

would be good if all visitors to the beach took a few bags of rubbish away with them every time they visit ..... - but then again .... most visiters drive ultra shiny 4x4 with lower north shore number plate sourounds , why would they want to dirty there precious cars with a little bit of litter .....

Boc