Who Flung Dung!
Parks and Wildlife have recently completed a ‘first of its kind’ toilet service on the Larapinta Trail, using a helicopter to sling out waste ‘pods’ from two remote toilets. This is the first time the pods have been emptied since the toilets were installed and the operation required careful planning and coordination with the helicopter pilot and park rangers on the ground.
The toilets were built and installed by a local contractor in 2024 and are located on Mount Sonder and Brinkleys Bluff, both remote high points on the Larapinta Trail. These locations were chosen as suitable places to install the toilets, as no excavation was required for a septic tank. Instead, a portable toilet pod, much like a standard residential wheelie bin, is used to store the waste until it’s ready for removal.
The slinging operation saw the transportation of 4 full bins from the toilets to a waste facility off site and required assistance from the helicopter pilot and 6 park rangers to successfully complete. Safety was paramount throughout the operation to ensure there were no accidents or mishaps.
The installation of the two toilets has improved environmental outcomes for the park as human waste is managed appropriately. This is also a more hygienic alternative for hikers than digging a hole in the bush. The successful slinging operation has demonstrated the effectiveness of the new toilets, and Parks and Wildlife are in the process of assessing further locations where toilets can be installed.
This is a great example of the Northern Territory Government re-investing revenue derived from the introduction in 2022 of camp site booking fees and trail use fees for the three Northern Territory “Great Walks”. (Larapinta Trail, Jatbula Trail and Tabletop Track)
Sustainable management of remote long distance hiking trails like the Larapinta Trail comes with significant costs and effort but is all in a day’s work for our Northern Territory rangers.
