Illegal campers leave 'unbelievable mess' on southern WA highwayBy Andrew Chounding and Andrew CollinsABC Great SouthernTopic:Travel and Tourism2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 10:03pmA rest stop between Albany and Denmark was littered with rubbish after a busy holiday period. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)In short:Rubbish and human refuse have been dumped at a rest stop between two popular holiday hotspots on the south coast.The communities of Albany and Denmark have both struggled to manage rising tourist numbers in recent years.What's next?Main Roads says fines have been handed out to people caught illegally dumping.abc.net.au/news/roadside-rubbish-dumping-south-coast-highway-albany-denmark/105255506Link copiedShareShare articleAuthorities along Western Australia's south coast are warning of serious financial penalties for roadside dumping after campers left piles of razors, rubbish and an excrement-filled toilet by a highway.A rest stop between the popular tourist towns of Albany and Denmark, about 420 kilometres south of Perth, was left in disarray after the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends.Both communities swell with tourists on holidays and long weekends, infuriating some residents.A portable toilet was left at a rest stop on WA's South Coast Highway. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)Last year, locals in the Shire of Denmark erected a sign attempting to dissuade holiday-makers staying at a popular tourist town, while last month the City of Albany implemented a hardline response, fining illegal campers.The moves appear to have pushed some campers away from the towns and into rest areas with fewer amenities.Razors and toilet paper were also found scattered across the rest stop. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)Those who regularly used rest stops, like WA truck driver Glenn "Yogi" Kendall, said the situation highlighted declining etiquette and courtesy among some road users."The long and short of it is horrible," he said."If we pull up at night and we're trying to cook a feed in a barbecue and get stuff out, you're just walking around people's filth because they are just trash," he said."No-one's got a shovel anymore, no-one goes into the scrub base … it's disgusting."Glenn "Yogi" Kendall is frustrated by people misusing highway rest stops. (Supplied: Glenn "Yogi" Kendall)Mr Kendall said the problem had "skyrocketed" across the country with people dumping at rest stops instead of paying for campsites or tip permits."It's disgusting that people dump stuff," he said."It frustrates the crap out of us that people dump their household rubbish in somewhere I've got to stay overnight."Mayor blames TikTokAlbany Mayor Greg Stocks said he did not believe the city's policy of handing out fines and moving on campers had contributed to the problem."I don't think so, logically you'd say yes, but when we had an issue at the waterfront at Christmas time and we moved people on, they just simply moved," he said."When you've got TikTok and WikiCamps where people share information really quickly in that network they'll just go somewhere else that's not being policed."Greg Stocks says people camping at rest stops were doing so illegally. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)Mr Stocks said people who chose to stay overnight at the rest stops were doing so illegally but rangers had no authority to police the location managed by Main Roads."It's really clear in the Caravan and Camping Grounds Act [from] 1995, you can't park in parks or you can't camp in public lands, beaches, parks or rest stops," he said."But that doesn't stop people from doing it. Compliance is the issue in all of this."Dumpers face hefty finesMain Roads's Great Southern regional director Andrew Duffield said the department was trying to address the issue.Andrew Duffield says fines have been handed out to dumping offenders. (ABC Great Southern: John Dobson)"Fines are applicable for illegal dumping, and they're fairly significant fines, up to $62,000 for individuals or $125,000 for businesses," he said.Mr Duffield said there was a measurable correlation between illegal dumping and busy holiday periods, but also pointed out that much of the dumping included items from local residents.Cleaning products were also discarded at the site. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)"People are using those areas as an opportunity to dump household rubbish," he said."They're [dumping] beds, washing machines, tyres, oil, asbestos, even from time to time household waste."He said overnight camping or dumping in the rest areas that prevented drivers from using them for their intended purpose could have a flow-on effect to other road users.Food cartons and scraps have been left at the site frequented by overnight campers. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)"We want people to not drive when they're tired," he said."We had a horrible Easter-Anzac Day period. We've seen 10 crashes on the network, including three fatalities."We want people to stop and take a break when they're tired but we don't want people to abuse the rest areas."ABC Great Southern — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each ThursdayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 10:03pm, updated 50m ago50 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:33pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatLIVEPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.After millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Palmer scratches his head.The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows A woman standing in front of her car.Related storiesCouncil launches fines blitz on travellers 'hogging' public facilitiesTopic:CampingPhoto shows a backpacker standing next to a car.Truck drivers plead with caravanners to stay away from truck rest stopsTopic:Road Transport IndustryPhoto shows A line of trucks at a stopIllegal camping leaving Margaret River locals fumingTopic:CampingPhoto shows A dirt carpark filled with vans next to a beachAfter 20 years of picking up rubbish, this volunteer wants some helpTopic:Community OrganisationsPhoto shows Michael FilbyRelated topicsAlbanyDenmarkLocal GovernmentMarbelupRecycling and Waste ManagementTravel and TourismTop StoriesNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsAfter millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsThe timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerJust InErin Patterson's mushroom murder trial resumesLIVE1m ago1 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:22amFarmers urged to 'hold firm' on policies upon Labor's returnTopic:Elections7m ago7 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:16amM1 scrap metal spill damage bill rises as drivers claim tyre repairsTopic:Road Accidents and Incidents32m ago32 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:51pmCalls for 'tough decisions' as drought threatens famously clear SA dive spotsTopic:Environmental Management35m ago35 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:48pmMore Just InBack to top