Yes, I saw that.
As a working resident of Alice, I see things out Uluru way that are unspeakable and infuriating, not just common arrogant tourist behaviour of
"I came here to specifically climb Ayres Rock [inc., a very disrespectful reference to it], and I don't care what the natives say, I'm going to climb it!! [actual quote!]. Crapping by the roadside outside an open car door is the way to go. Nappies? No problem — just leave them there by the tree. Bulging rubbish bags are left there on the side of the road as the car leaves, and cigarette butts are afforded the same treatment, even full ashtrays are emptied onto the road at speed. Plastic bottles are summarily tossed out of windows (it beats me why NT Police aren't more active along the major highways to give these loons a well-deserved hit to the hip pocket) and abuse of indigenous Rangers (along the lines of the quote, above). There are certain places where people must
not photograph Uluru, but try telling that to the determined, camera-toting, selfie-snapping Chinese, Spanish and Germans — they're going to do things their way. They should be belted.
I'm desperately saddened how indigenous people cop a lot of abuse from the plain bloody-minded arrogant tourists infesting Uluru (and Kata Tjuta). They hang around Alice telling all and sundry at the Hostel how
"blacks telling us don't climb the rock -- f*ck 'em, I've come to do it and I will do it!. The end of October cannot come fast enough, but then there is the problem of policing Uluru to ensure that people get the message — no climbing means
NO CLIMBING!. Sorry for the pun, but this is going to be an uphill battle and international tour operators and agents (Asia, Europe especially) have to get on board too to sound out the law after the climbing ban comes into effect.
People seem to think there is a café and toilets up on the top. They get there and find ... nil, zero, zilch, nada. So they find the nearest crack and fill it! Now imagine just what happens when Uluru gets a decent downpour. Yep, all that stuff gets washed down off the rock into the gullies and chasms. Karma will get them.
Chains and poles have been removed from Uluru (2 months ago) by the area management. That is a reminder of what is coming. And long after the tourists have gone, the scars of 50 years of traipsing over that monolith will forever remain.
PS: No, I have never climbed Uluru, nor have I photographed it, or Kata Tjuta.