New CCTV installed to combat illegal dumping near Yachty
Shire waste
A new program to crack down on illegal dumping has been announced by the State Government as Douglas Shire Council makes a fresh plea to residents to stop the damaging practice.
The latest example was a huge pile of household waste unloaded near the Port Douglas Yacht Club, with CCTV now installed at the site in an effort to stop the dumping happening there in future.
“Illegal dumping damages our environment, creates safety hazards, and diverts council resources away from essential services,” a DSC release states.
“Every load collected has to be transported and disposed of correctly — which means avoidable cleanup costs and staff time that could be spent keeping Douglas running smoothly.”
The fine for an individual illegally dumping less than 2500 litres of rubbish is about $2700, and dumping more than that will attract a minimum penalty of about $3300.
For corporations, the penalty for less than 2500 litres is about $8300, and more than that attracts a minimum fine of about $12,500.
The installation of cameras at the site comes as the State Government has announced a new $17.7m program to help crack down on illegal dumping.
Councils can apply for funding through the program to employ dedicated compliance officers and buy surveillance equipment, signage, cars, and other resources to help investigate and prevent illegal dumping.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said recycling rates in Queensland had gone backwards and this led to more illegal dumping reports.
“Queensland is blessed with some of the most extraordinary natural landscapes anywhere in the world, and we all have a responsibility to protect it from the harm caused by litter and illegal dumping,” Minister Powell said.
“This program strengthens the work we do alongside councils right across the state, giving them the tools they need to identify offenders, deter illegal dumping, and safeguard the local places Queenslanders care about.
Applications for the grants are open until Wednesday, February 25.
During a 2020/21 campaign to crack down on illegal dumping, close to 100 incidents were recorded and investigated by the DSC, including seven tonnes found near Port Douglas which included car bodies, a mattress and household goods.
The most prevalent forms of illegal dumping at that time were household waste (45 per cent), green waste (32 per cent) and car waste (7 per cent).
The council spends at least $55,000 per year battling illegal dumping.
The DSC said community reporting was one of the most effective ways to stop repeat offenders.
Report illegal dumping at douglas.qld.gov.au/.../report-illegal-dumping.
