‘Rubbish Central’ is local eyesore

By CHANTAL ADAMS

WHITE Gum Park in Kununurra continues to be a disgrace with alcoholic packaging, gambling paraphernalia and other waste products littering the area.

But despite the intolerable stench of human waste, park users remain indifferent to the filth – relying on paid contractors to clean up the mess.

Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley CEO Peter Stubbs confronted a group of people sitting in White Gum Park on Thursday morning (last week) in regards to the litter.

When asked if he had $2, Mr Stubbs said he did not, but was prepared to pay the group $100 if they would clean the park.

The extra $88 found no takers and Mr Stubbs said one of them told him: “We don’t have to do that mister, because somebody does it in the morning.”

Kimberley Waste Services are contracted to clean the park, but manager Lance Ozanne said the amount of rubbish in the area was getting ridiculous.

“The past month has seen the problem get out of hand,” Mr Ozanne said.

“There are handfuls of rubbish every square metre – they are even killing the lawn.

“We are just sick of it and I’ve tried talking to the police and the Shire, but I think their hands are just as tied.”

Mr Ozanne said whoever was in charge of the park-dwellers needed to explain the importance of putting rubbish in the bin.

Both Mr Stubbs and Mr Ozanne agreed the core of the problem was a deep-seated cultural attitude towards litter.

“All people in the community need to understand that attitude must change,” Mr Stubbs said.

“Otherwise they are destroying everything that makes the Kimberley region such a unique and special place. “What is required is common sense and people to just stop vandalising the environment they enjoy.”

Amidst the public debate concerning the dilemma of White Gum Park, Kununurra police said they were doing as much as they could.

Snr Sgt Moyle said police were conducting regular designated liquor patrols, dealing with anti-social behaviour and liquor offences in and around the White Gum Park area.

He told the Echo, of the several police officers on duty, the number of infringements issued by just two officers during one evening was testament to police doing their job well.

“Last Tuesday night, three alcohol-related arrests were made in and around the White Gum Park area,” Snr Sgt Moyle said.

“Five liquor infringement notices were issued, as well as 12 liquor cautions, two traffic infringements and attending five more liquor related issues,” he said, but added it was not possible for police to have a sole focus on White Gum Park when they had myriad problems with which to deal.

He confirmed police had contacted the ranger on several occasions to attend to gambling problems in the park.

“We’re looking at having a good working relationship with the ranger, but sometimes these offences and behaviour occur outside of Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm – and that is the reality,” Snr Sgt Moyle said.

“Police actually pick up rubbish too and do what they can.”

Mr Stubbs said the recent massive increase in litter could be attributed to several reasons.

“I suspect at the moment we have a lot of additional people from communities – and this happens in other towns such as Broome too,” Mr Stubbs said.

“We are not unique in the challenges we face.”
He agreed last week was ‘atrocious’ but said he did not expect the problem to be as bad in coming weeks.

“We have put on extra people to pick up rubbish, but the Shire has little influence over public drinkers.

“We do try and work with police and support them – and in general they do a very good job for the town. We provide parks and public toilets for convenience – people need to start respecting their environment,” he said.