LOCALS outraged over backpackers using the City Park splash pad as a bathroom have called on council and police to take action.
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Last Wednesday afternoon, local mum Tanya Clark took her six-year-old daughter to the water play area to cool off from the summer heat.
Mrs Clark noticed a number of adult men in the children's water park, who soon produced bottles of shower gel and shampoo.
The men proceeded to wash themselves and rinse off in the splash pad, in full view of the children.
But what repulsed Mrs Clark most was a female backpacker who was wearing a bikini and shorts, who put her hands down her pants to wash herself and held out her shorts over one of the fountains to rinse.
"It's just not appropriate, especially at that time of day when there are kids around," Mrs Clark said.
"It's disgusting."
The Area News has also received reports from other concerned parents, who have said "it needs to stop".
Mrs Clark said there were a number of public showers available to the backpackers, such as those in the Memorial Park toilet block or even the St Vincent De Paul or Salvation Army hostels.
"Even where they stay is bad they just hang their washing out in Memorial Park," she said.
"But washing themselves in public, I've never seen anything like it before.
"We wouldn't do that if we went over to their countries."
Anyone who is offended by the behaviour of backpackers has been urged to contact Griffith City Council on 6962 8100.
"If people report it, council can do something about it," Mrs Clark said.