Tonnes of rubbish is rotting on the outskirts of a South Australian national park and locals are concerned the dump will grow unless State authorities intervene.
The dump, littered with plastic, toys, and scrap metal, stretches for more than 500 metres throughout native scrubland near the Cooltong Conservation Park, a protected area in South Australia's Riverland.
Neighbouring farmer Brad Gallard said he thought the wider Riverland community would be shocked to learn of the dump's existence.
"I think they'd be absolutely disgusted, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"When you see it you just can't even believe it."
Fences cut, utes filled with rubbish
Mr Gallard said the fence between his property and the protected area was frequently cut down.
"Obviously they need access to the national park," he said.
"The fences get cut to get these utes with loads of rubbish out there.
"About every two to three days there's a ute of some sort ducking through our property to get to the dump."
Mr Gallard said he thought the frequent activity in the area indicated the dumping site was "an organised" operation.
"You have to wonder why someone would put so much effort into taking rubbish out there all the time," he said.
Site likely used for several years
Local man Kyle Pfitzner, who often trail rides through the park, said the illegal dump had been growing for "five to six years".
"It's upsetting when you see so much rubbish out there and someone really misusing the park and not treating it right," he said.
A similar dump in the Cooltong Conservation Park was brought to public attention back in 2014.
Mr Gallard and Mr Pfitzner said it was unclear whether the two sites were related.
Council urges Government to act
The Renmark Paringa Council has resolved to write to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Minister for Environment and Water.
"Hopefully we can convince the Government that it needs to be cleaned up, scrap the whole lot and take it all away," Mayor Neil Martinson said.
"If we can locate the owners of that particular rubbish, council would make every endeavour to prosecute them."
