Photos

At the base of Uluru, there are found "waterholes" which are critical sources of water for the Aboriginal people and animals in the area. They form water catchment pools for rain falling and streaming down Uluru. This photo shows part of the famous Mutitjulu Waterhole,

For a long time the Aboriginal custodians of Uluru have asked visitors not to climb Uluru which they say is to them what a cathedral may mean to a Christian.Our Prime Minister gave his dollar's worth to the debate by saying it would be sad if tourists were prevented from climbing the monolith. It now looks as if the decision of whether to climb or not to climb will rest on the oscillating head of our minister for the environment.

When I took this photo in the presence of an Aboriginal guide, I was told that the water was unfit for human consumption as it is full of chemical residue and e coli bacteria.These are natural waterholes that are filled up when the rain gathers and flows along deep channels that have been formed along the face of Uluru.Unfortunately now when it rains, the water that comes tumbling down from Uluru's heights brings with it the residue left behind by the scraping of tens of thousands of shod feet, the spillage left behind from thousands of soft drink cans and bottles, food scraps and soiled tissue paper decomposing in crevices at the top of Uluru, and human feces. Is it any wonder that this priceless water which is collected is now too dangerous to drink.

Another byproduct of the filth left behind on the rock are the shiny black, treacle-like marks along the water channels which can be seen on the face of Uluru from a long distance.

My guide and I stood shoulder to shoulder and in the silence of the place looked at this place,beguilingly beautiful, its pool deep and still. I said in despair that maybe soon people will respond to their plea in a positive and respectful way. He gave a gentle laugh which said to me that both he and his people have become used to the disrespect and empty words of those who came and took their land.

I am attaching today's article in our learned national paper. It is this article which prompted me to post the image.

Claims tourists are using Uluru as a toilet
September 8, 2009 - 11:39AM


Tourists are defecating on the top of Uluru.

It's a sacred site and one of Australia's natural wonders but Andrew Simpson, general manager of the Anangu Waai tour company, says that isn't stopping people from using it as a toilet.

"That's been going on for years," he told the NT News.

"When people climb up the top of the rock there's no toilet facilities up there.

"They get out of sight ... (and) most of them have a toilet roll tucked away.

"They're s----ing on a sacred site."

His claims come as the federal government considers whether to ban people climbing the 348-metre-high rock, which is sacred to local Aborigines.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park called for an end to people making the arduous trek up the monolith earlier this year, citing cultural, environmental and safety concerns.

It sparked immediate debate over the future of the climb, which is seen by many as a drawcard for the 350,000 tourists who visit the rock each year.

Submissions on the plan closed last Friday, with federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to consider more than 150 of them before making a decision next year.

"It's now time for me to have a good, careful look, at all those submissions that have come forward," he said on Monday.

"I'll make my decision in due course."

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has come out against a ban, saying it would be "very sad" if tourists were denied the chance to scale the rock.

Those who do already bypass a sign from the local indigenous community which politely requests them not to climb the sacred rock.

Mr Simpson said not only was the climb dangerous but it created a number of environmental issues.

"(There's) the rubbish and people defecating on top of the rock and polluting the waterholes," he said.

"That in itself is (a) big enough reason to consider closing the climb".