Outback campaign targets clueless caravanners
Flying poo spiders among many Outback hazards for unwary travellersA rise in the number of inconsiderate campers travelling through South Australia's Outback since COVID-19 has prompted a social media campaign designed to educate travellers about the unwritten rules of the Outback.
'The 'Aussie Travel Code' campaign funded by the Outback Communities Authority and supported by Outback businesses, aims to raise awareness of accepted behaviours for travellers to the Flinders Ranges and Outback regions, according to the official website.
The principal tenets of the Code are to 'Come prepared, stay on track, keep it clean and respect the Outback'.
The campaign encourages travellers to do the right thing by the locals as well as fellow travellers and the natural environment, including advice like "clean up your campsite when you leave, and take a little bit extra to say thanks".
Outback travellers are also encouraged to BYO firewood, as "collecting wood causes a lot of damage to delicate ecosystems, and impacts resources that landowners and pastoralists rely on".
Other Outback etiquette 'rules' include looking out for fellow travellers and stopping to help if a car is pulled over on the roadside, and seeking permission before camping or driving on private property, or travelling onto pastoral leases.
Outback travellers are also encouraged to plan ahead for toilet stops, in order to avoid creating 'flying poo spiders'.
"Well, you know the feeling of dread when you find a massive spider in the house - that’s how it feels to discover piles of human waste by the side of the road, left by travellers who didn’t plan their toilet stops properly," it says on one social media post.
"Now imagine the massive spider has wings, and it can catch a breeze and fly towards you. That’s their dirty toilet paper."
One of the campaign organisers, Jo Fort from the Innamincka hotel told the ABC that travellers need to be considerate of the environment as well as landowners and residents who live in the area.
"The Outback is for everybody. Some people live and work in the Outback, that is where they make their homes, they bring up their children, that's the way they make their income," she said.
"Whilst travellers and visitors are more than welcome, we're asking them to remember that there is a particular code of behaviour that we expect of them."
The campaign is initially aimed at those travelling through South Australia but could spread to other Outback regions of Australia.
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