And there’s usually no better place to do all that than at your local watering hole. 

Fortunately for us around the country music capital, we’re spoilt for choice.

We’ve got the Peel River, Chaffey Dam, Lake Keepit and a swag of public pools to help us beat the heat when the mercury soars. 

Holidays are a time when crowds descend on town. Relatives roll in to visit family over the Christmas period, and campers bunker down on Tamworth’s sporting fields in the lead up to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

It’s a time when we should put our best foot forward; showcase our region for all it is.

So it’s disappointing to see that rubbish is being illegally dumped around local waterways. 

A Nundle mother shared her story of how her family had happened upon a mound of dumped household goods near the Chaffey Dam wall while swimming. 

It’s lazy, selfish and downright dangerous.

There are adequate waste disposal facilities across the shire to bin things properly. 

It’s an eyesore to locals and those visiting. 

If a visitor’s first impression of the region is tarred by stumbling upon rubbish lining our waterways and public facilities, what does it say about us? 

Not only is the act of illegal dumping lazy and selfish, but it’s also dangerous.

Bins and tips are there for a reason.

I’m sure no one wants to be swimming next to a dirty nappy or stepping on a heap of dumped garbage that could contain something sharp. 

When the mother’s story published online, it was met with words from our readers of disrespectful and lazy.

And that’s exactly what it is. 

Tamworth Regional Council is encouraging residents to not only do the right thing by properly disposing of their own garbage, but also reporting any acts of illegal dumping they might see others doing.

There are wonderful volunteer groups like Landcare who spend time cleaning up waterways by collecting rubbish and rejuvenating wildlife. 

But it’s time we all played a part.

Put things in the bin and report any illegal dumping to council.

Tamworth and surrounds, it’s time we put our best foot forward.