Close to 50 names are inscribed on the Truck Driver’s Memorial Wall in South Grafton, a local monument situated alongside the Big River Way which honours those who have made significant contributions to the transport industry over the years, and tragically, lost their lives while driving heavy vehicles as part of their daily employment.

In recent weeks, several Clarence Valley residents and visitors to the region have raised concerns regarding the condition of what they describe as a sacred space, with many expressing their horror via social media at the shocking volumes of rubbish including discarded shopping trolleys, dirty clothing, and general household waste, littering the site.

When visiting South Grafton last month to pay her respects to her brother and grandfather, whose names appear on the Truck Diver’s Memorial Wall, Queensland resident Hayley Kay told the Clarence Valley Independent she was devastated to see so much garbage and overgrown vegetation surrounding the monument, describing it as a dumping ground.

Ms Kay emailed Clarence Valley Council (CVC) who manage the location on May 15 and said after receiving a generic reply advising her the relevant person or persons would respond to her inquiries within the following 10 days, no further correspondence has been received.

While she understands access to the Truck Diver’s Memorial Wall to carry out general maintenance has been restricted in recent months due to ongoing wet weather across large areas of Northern NSW, Ms Kay said it was sad and disheartening to see the amount of rubbish that had accumulated at the location which opened more than 20 years ago to provide families and friends with a peaceful and reflective space to pay tribute to their loved ones.

“It hasn’t been properly maintained,” she said.

“It’s a memorial, it’s a place for people to come together and remember their friends and family members who lost their lives.

“There is also a homeless camp which has been set up nearby, and a lot of people don’t feel safe visiting or accessing the site.

“My late brother’s kids went to visit the memorial recently, and they left because they felt too frightened to be there.

“It should never have been allowed to get into such a state.

“It’s not good enough.”

When approached for comment last week, Council issued a statement to the Clarence Valley Independent citing a combination of factors which has made it challenging to keep the area in good condition.

A spokesperson said recent rainfall has made the park too wet for equipment to be used for mowing, and unfortunately, the same weather conditions have prevented the garbage truck from accessing the area for rubbish collection.

The spokesperson also said as the land manager of the site, Council is committed to working closely with lead government agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) to find a resolution that is both effective and sensitive to the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in the area.

“Since homelessness falls under the jurisdiction of the NSW Government, Council is required to follow the Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places when engaging with people who are experiencing homelessness,” they explained.

“Our Rangers conduct regular patrols and collaborate with relevant welfare agencies to connect individuals with housing and other support services.

“They also patrol the area, tagging any unoccupied property for removal by our Open Spaces team.

“Council is unable to remove private property unless it has been tagged by our Rangers as abandoned.”

The spokesperson also said Council staff will liaise with relevant agencies and NGOs to ensure the occupants of the homeless camp are aware that the location has significant importance to families and friends of truck drivers who have passed away, and the memorial is visited periodically.

“The campers need to conduct their activities and maintain their camps in a tidy manner,” they said.

“Council extends its heartfelt sympathy to the families of the truck drivers remembered at the site.

“If anyone feels unsafe while visiting the area, we encourage you to contact the police immediately for your safety.”

When the Clarence Valley Independent visited the Truck Diver’s Memorial Wall in South Grafton on June 17, recent efforts had been made to clean up the location and remove rubbish from the vicinity to improve access to the site.

In a follow-up conversation with Ms Kay, she said while she was pleased to hear Council had taken action to tidy the area, she concurred it should never have been neglected for so long.

Ms Kay also expressed a desire to know what the long-term plans are to ensure the location remains clean and accessible for visitors and people feel safe when visiting the memorial.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 25 June 2025.