Following the New Year holiday, the Bega District News reported on the filth left behind by a group of campers on the shore of the dam and Nelson Creek.

It was later termed “an isolated incident” by Water NSW, but as of the Australia Day weekend, new signage has been erected by National Parks and Wildlife Service outlining the prohibition of camping in the area.

The Smith family of Brogo have been camping there for decades and had a full week planned from Tuesday until Sunday.

However, on Friday afternoon a NPWS ranger arrived to tell them they all needed to get out as camping was not allowed.

The Smiths said fresh dirt and “wobbliness” indicated the sign was only freshly installed, perhaps while they were already down by the water they thought.

They said they were one of four groups arriving along the access trail through Wadbilliga National Park during that week, with no-one noticing a new sign on the way in.

They were told they had to be gone by Saturday morning and the ranger would be returning to make sure.

Although upset their Australia Day plans were to be cut short, they said they waited around to show the ranger they “always leave campsites cleaner than when they arrive” but he didn’t show.

Then friends of theirs who went in briefly later in the day said more campers had set up for the night.

“Why stop us and not others?” they asked.

“It’s also open from the water side so there’s nothing stopping kayakers and canoers pulling up to camp or picnic.

“It has to be consistent.”

EDITORIAL: Even kids know to throw rubbish in a bin

When contacted for comment, a NPWS spokesperson said they routinely patrol the national park during busy periods, such as the Australia Day long weekend, and said “no camping” signs near Brogo Dam “were recently replaced with new signs”.

WaterNSW said the area around Nelson Creek, where the littering occurred over New Year’s, “has never been a designated camping area”.

WaterNSW said it would be meeting with NPWS and Bega Valley Shire Council next week to look at the issue and is constantly working with OEH to secure the area around the Brogo Dam foreshore.