Human excrement and campfires when a bushfire emergency situation is developing - welcome to Dolphin Point Reserve.
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A local resident was looking forward to heading off along the Dolphin Point trail for a nice walk recently until she was greeted with what can only be described as a totally unacceptable situation.
"I noticed a smoke plume rising behind a vehicle up the top near the public toilets," the resident said.
"So I walked around to find a smouldering fire, unattended, under the awning of a pop-top camper."
The incidents happened a week before the fire emergency took off and the resident does not want to see it happen again.
"The chairs were sitting around the scene and the vehicle was fully open. Doors, boot - everything open but the owners were nowhere to be found," she said.
"Meanwhile, just down the road bushfires rage on. Don't worry though, it's not like lives or properties are at risk or anything."
She took what she thought was the appropriate action.
"I didn't have access to any water but was able to place a nearby tub over the main smoking log and checked the area," she said.
"Nine phone calls/dead-ends later, I finally managed to get in contact with someone who was able to get a report out to the local police and fire department.
"This is unfortunately not uncommon, regardless of all the signs plastered everywhere and most importantly it was when a Total Fire Ban was in place."
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Then she stumbled across what is another concerning issue.
"The other issue is that almost every night, someone is camping in this no-camping area," she said.
"The problem is that these people too often decide to drop their excrement, complete with toilet paper, anywhere and everywhere.
"There was way too many on the walking path which is lovely and I like to call them #pooparkers.
"Of course, not only the dogs but all the animals love getting right into it.
"Highly unpleasant for anyone out to enjoy a 'nice' morning walk.
"This happens nearly every night, it's getting trashed and no one does anything about it."
A spokesperson for Shoalhaven City Council said they would take action.
"Council will increase its patrols in the Dolphin Point area as a result of this most recent advice," the council spokesperson said.
"Council rangers have a broad range of duties including parking patrol, animal control, illegal waste dumping and general environmental protection.
"Lighting of open fires on total fire ban days is irresponsible and potentially dangerous."
Should any member of the public identify camp or other fires, then this activity needs to be reported immediately to the NSW RFS (1800 679 737) or the Police via Triple Zero (000).
"The penalty for not complying with no camping or littering signage is $110. Council rangers are out and about each day and are enforcing these requirements," the spokesperson said.
