Rangers monitor beach after human faeces and toilet paper finds

Rangers will continue to monitor the situation at a popular fishing spot in Port Hedland after users of the beach reported it was being used as a public toilet.

Late last month, resident Christie Lindenberg was disgusted to find the entrance to the beach area at the very end of Gray Street, in the area known as Six Mile, littered with human faeces and toilet paper.

Ms Lindenberg, who frequents the spot weekly, said she had spoken to backpackers who were parked at the site and asked them to cover their excrement properly to little avail.

She returned a week later to find the site still being used as a makeshift toilet block and rubbish scattered across the beach.

“I don’t know if it happens every year, but it’s disgusting now, ” she said.

“There are two bins and people are just chucking (litter) all over the place.

“I don’t know if it’s because the bins are full or if they are just lazy.

“It’s not nice down there anymore.

“It’s a shame if they do nothing because it’s a beautiful spot.”

The Six Mile area along Gray Street, on the port side of the Dampier Salt operations on Wilson Street, is not a designated camping spot. However, halfway along the street where the boat ramp is located, there is a rest stop with free wi-fi and seating areas.

Town of Port Hedland chief executive Mal Osborne said the council had received complaints about the area and was undertaking daily patrols to reduce the impact of illegal camping, including issuing infringements and moving people on.

He said weekly collections of bins at the site were occurring.

“We urge all visitors and locals enjoying the area to treat it with respect, (to) take their litter with them and certainly not to use the area as a toilet, ” he said.

“We are lucky to have stunning landscapes just on our doorstep and it’s up to all of us to care for it.”

Ms Lindenberg said there appeared to be a lot of rubbish around for a site that was being monitored daily.

She implored rangers to visit from 4.30pm when “campers rock up” to ensure they were catching those who were camping illegally and using the site as a toilet.