OPINION: Rubbish in Nambucca State Forest Opinion by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 20, 2021 DEAR News Of The Area, AS a horse rider, I spend a fair bit of time in state forests in our area, and have been constantly appalled by the amount of dumped rubbish that litters our beautiful environment. I’m pleased to read in your 6 August 2021 edition, that the Forestry Corporation of NSW has undertaken to clear up at least some of this rubbish. However, I wonder how much refuse would be there to collect, if there were no fees for residents to visit the council tip. Having lived in Pine Rivers Shire in Brisbane in recent years, where there is no tip fee for local residents, I can say the bush there is all but rubbish free. Has Council calculated the economic benefits of charging residents to tip, versus cleaning up the resulting mess from those who won’t, or can’t, pay the fee? Do they not care because it is left to others to clean up the mess? The economic assessment should be made in addition to considering the environmental, aesthetic and safety impacts to our community. I’m certainly not condoning illegal rubbish dumping, but it might be time for Nambucca Shire Council to rethink their approach. Regards, Nicole MURPHIE.
Dear Editor, In reply to Ms Murphie’s suggestion that Council abolish tip fees, I utterly oppose this. Much of the junk left in the State Forest is recyclable at the tip for free. When Council collected junk from curbside, there was still illegal dumping in the state forest. It is a mindset that we are fighting. I fight this mindset every day by collecting rubbish on my daily walk. It is a simple matter to carry a pick up stick and bag. Sometimes, I will use a hand cart or a 4wd ute. May I genuinely suggest that Ms Murphy occasionally use her horse on a lead to collect rubbish in the State Forest. Attitudes to conservation will change if we all set personal examples of how to live. The same goes for drivers of 4wd vehicles who drive by and ignore illegal waste dumps.. Reply
