These have been set up by local youths for the purpose of under-age drinking and drug use. Large items of furniture and a great deal of litter, filth (human excrement) and drug paraphernalia is in evidence.
They have also established BMX tracks by demolishing the native bush including chopping banksias to make fences, trampling orchids and destroying the habitat of native animals.
However, the main concern is that fires are lit and left unattended. On Friday, September 12 when there was a raging easterly, Stirling Security had to call the fire department to extinguish one fire that could otherwise have got out of hand.
The City of Stirling’s Waste Department staff apparently removed nearly a tonne and a half from some of these camps, but are unaware of others that have been reported to the City’s Environment Department.
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READ NOWMore and more camps are set up all the time and by not removing them as soon as reported, the damage is exacerbated and the youths feel that they have tacit approval for their activities. If each camp only affects an acre, which would be an understatement, the cumulative damage to the bushland is substantial as well as the risk of fire to the bush and surrounding homes.
While one can understand the need for youths to engage in such healthy pursuits as camping, trail bikes riding and so forth, these youths are actually engaged in several criminal activities that endanger not only themselves but also others and they seem to have no regard for the environment.
Perhaps by publishing this letter, you can reach some of the youngsters’ parents who live in the local area and may be unaware of what the youths are doing.