Illegal dumping of rubbish in Ashburton has raised the ire of the town’s volunteer beautification group, Litter Free Ashburton.
In their first outing of the year, members collected a large black rubbish bag north of town.
It was described as a ‘‘horrible, illegal and very deliberate dumping’’.
Member Bev Skates said the bag, found in one of the laybys up near the kiosk on State Highway One, contained more than just household rubbish. She believed it was from freedom campers overstaying in the area.
‘‘The smell was absolutely revolting. They just dumped it there and we picked it up,’’ Skates said.
The dumping was particularly upsetting as there was a district council rubbish bin in an onsite kiosk, which was emptied every day.
‘‘Around the kiosk area, the actual area, where people pull in and park where the kiosk building is, that’s usually pretty good,’’ Skates said.
However freedom campers driving behind the laybys, into the trees next to the railway, was where the problems were, she said.
District Council group manager of compliance and development Ian Hyde said freedom camping and illegal rubbish dumping was generally not an issue at the layby, but concerns had been raised.
‘‘We have been made aware of concerns about things that have happened there recently and are working to make sure the area is kept clean and tidy going forward.
‘‘We are happy for freedom campers to use our reserves, where there are toilets and other facilities, and in return we expect them to respect our space. In our experience, most move on after one night,’’ he said.
He confirmed lower limbs on trees in the area were scheduled to be trimmed, in time.
‘‘There is a plan to do this work along the entire treeline when staff are available, but it is a large area and so an ongoing process,’’ Hydes said.
– Members of the public are encouraged to report illegally dumped rubbish, to council on 307-7700.
