Uluru being 'used as a toilet'
Iskhandar Razak Updated September 08, 2009 11:00:00
Photo: "There are the environmental issues of the rubbish and people defecating on top of the rock" ... tour operator Andrew Simpson. Related Story: Plan to ban climbers from Uluru Related Story: Rudd urged to veto Uluru climbing ban Related Story: Tourism body warns against Uluru changes Related Story: Garrett secret Uluru plan 'preposterous' Related Story: Rudd supports Uluru climbers Related Story: 'Flood of submissions' for Uluru ban proposal Map: Alice Springs 0870 Some people who climb Uluru are using it as a toilet, a tour operator in Alice Springs says.
The Federal Government is considering banning people from climbing the rock for cultural, environmental and safety reasons.
About 150 submissions have been sent to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park about how the rock should be managed.
A final decision on the plan will be made by the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett.
Andrew Simpson, the general manager of a tour company run by Indigenous people in Alice Springs, says climbing should be outlawed because it is dangerous and people have been killed attempting it.
"And then there are the environmental issues of the rubbish and people defecating on top of the rock and polluting the waterholes around Uluru," Mr Simpson said.
"Basically it can take you quite a while to get up there and there are no facilities up there.
"So when nature calls you must do what nature needs you to do."
He says "that in itself is [a] big enough reason to consider closing the climb".
The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, says he is disgusted by claims tourists are going to the toilet on top of Uluru.
But he says the Government is still against the proposal to close the climb entirely.
"The Government's position at this point in time, we think that a full closure of the rock is not the way to go," he said.
"But ultimately this is a consultation process.
"If the wishes of the traditional owners prevail that the full closure of the rock should progress in terms of climbing, we'll respect that."
Photo: "There are the environmental issues of the rubbish and people defecating on top of the rock" ... tour operator Andrew Simpson. Related Story: Plan to ban climbers from Uluru Related Story: Rudd urged to veto Uluru climbing ban Related Story: Tourism body warns against Uluru changes Related Story: Garrett secret Uluru plan 'preposterous' Related Story: Rudd supports Uluru climbers Related Story: 'Flood of submissions' for Uluru ban proposal Map: Alice Springs 0870 Some people who climb Uluru are using it as a toilet, a tour operator in Alice Springs says.
The Federal Government is considering banning people from climbing the rock for cultural, environmental and safety reasons.
About 150 submissions have been sent to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park about how the rock should be managed.
A final decision on the plan will be made by the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett.
Andrew Simpson, the general manager of a tour company run by Indigenous people in Alice Springs, says climbing should be outlawed because it is dangerous and people have been killed attempting it.
"And then there are the environmental issues of the rubbish and people defecating on top of the rock and polluting the waterholes around Uluru," Mr Simpson said.
"Basically it can take you quite a while to get up there and there are no facilities up there.
"So when nature calls you must do what nature needs you to do."
He says "that in itself is [a] big enough reason to consider closing the climb".
The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, says he is disgusted by claims tourists are going to the toilet on top of Uluru.
But he says the Government is still against the proposal to close the climb entirely.
"The Government's position at this point in time, we think that a full closure of the rock is not the way to go," he said.
"But ultimately this is a consultation process.
"If the wishes of the traditional owners prevail that the full closure of the rock should progress in terms of climbing, we'll respect that."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-09-08/uluru-being-used-as-a-toilet/1420964
