The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the NT (PWCNT) advises that remaining rubbish bins at Litchfield National Park will start to be removed from Monday, 19 January 2015.
Top End Region District Manager, Lincoln Wilson said more than 300,000 people visit Litchfield National Park each year and this number is increasing, which is also increasing the amount of litter generated on Park.
“Litter puts native wildlife at risk, spoils the amenity for visitors and puts a strain on the environment, which is why we will be removing the remaining rubbish bins within the Park from January and visitors will be expected to take all of their rubbish with them when they leave the Park,” Mr Wilson said.
“This is standard practise in many other National Parks around Australia and internationally, including Nitmiluk National Park and Tjuwaliyn Hot Springs here in the Territory, and we are confident that phasing out of rubbish bins within Litchfield National Park will be a win for visitors, taxpayers and the environment.
“The Park does not have recycling capacity and to stop recyclable items adding to landfill we encourage all visitors to take their litter away with them to centres that allow for reuse and recycling, along with environmentally safe disposal of items, such as batteries, oils and chemicals.
“We are encouraging Park visitors to be more environmentally conscious and help keep our Park looking its best by taking their rubbish away with them, which will help enhance the experience for all visitors.
“Also, we aim to reduce the effects of litter on wildlife by encouraging people to take their rubbish with them as local wildlife have been known to spread the rubbish, endangering themselves and developing a dependency on the rubbish to survive.
“Consultation with key tourism stakeholders for the area was undertaken, where the feedback received was positive and the majority of people were in support of the removal of rubbish bins, while tour operators already remove any litter generated by their operations on Park already.
“By removing the rubbish bins and encouraging visitors to take their rubbish with them, the funds that would be needed for rubbish removal and disposal can be reallocated to other important management obligations on Park, such as fire management, to help keep visitors safe and limit environmental harm.”
Rubbish bins at Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole day use areas and campgrounds will be removed. All other visitor areas don’t have rubbish bins and visitors already take their rubbish away with them.
Rangers will monitor the areas where the remaining bins have been removed to ensure their removal is helping to reduce the impact of litter on the environment.
For more information visit www.parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au
Ends
Media note – For further information/interviews please contact Lincoln Wilson on 8970 6268 or 0408 110 708.