Fly-tippers trash beauty spots

Some of Marlborough’s most scenic recreation reserves are being marred by mindless fly-tippers who continue to dump rubbish and animal carcasses across the region’s beauty spots.

Litter louts have also desecrated the Wairau Bar, an important historical and wa¯hi tapu site.

The area, which includes urupa¯ (burial sites), was designated a wa¯ hi tapu site by the Historic Places Trust in 2012 and is sacred to Ma¯ ori for traditional, spiritual, ritual and mythological reasons.

Department of Conservation supervisor of recreation and historic sites Gavin Finch said there had been a notable rise in flytipping and littering around reserves since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020.

‘‘In the last two years there has been an increasing amount of rubbish dumped at Ra¯ rangi and the Wairau Bar – [there] could be a link to Covid clean-outs,’’ Finch said.

Renwick-based DOC community ranger Caroline Cornelius said she was unsure whether the rise in incidents were intentional or as a result of bad habits.

‘‘[It] is proving to be a more prevalent problem in our local community – illegal rubbish dumping or maybe just a case of lazy picnicking,’’ Cornelius said.

Cornelius said that the flytipping of larger household items had become more common.

‘‘Our team is also noticing the increase in litter collection at DOC sites – incredibly, larger items such as fridges are having to be collected,’’ Cornelius said.

DOC rangers said it was frustrating as the money being used to constantly clean up after visitors and illegal rubbish dumpers could be better spent elsewhere.

‘‘DOC has to foot the bill, the cost has to come out of [the] conservation budget which is an opportunity lost for a project to make a difference. Ultimately, someone ends up paying the bill,’’ Finch said.

Another DOC staffer said there had also been an increase in hunters leaving carcasses and offal out in the open on reserves, with the area around Molesworth Station being the hardest hit.

‘‘Given the many hunting opportunities across Marlborough, rubbish dumped on conservation land in the region includes carcasses,’’ the spokesman said.

Finch added: ‘‘Carcass dumping is a real problem; hunters need to use the offal pits [provided].’’

Fly-tipping and carcass dumping was not only an eyesore for others but could also be hazardous to the environment and pose serious health and safety risks to those who came into contact with the waste.

The DOC spokesman said the public could help in combatting the problem by reporting incidents as they happened, and that culprits could face severe penalties when caught.

‘‘Dumping rubbish on public conservation land is illegal. Offenders can face up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine up to $100,000 for contaminants, while a corporate can face up to a $200,000 fine,’’ the spokesman said.

Anyone who sees rubbish dumping or similar behaviour on public conservation land should report it by phoning 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).