Illegal dumpers are soon to have two dedicated officers on their tail.
The state government has awarded funding to the local council so they can hire two people to bust illegal dumpers in the act.
Yet, while council is accepting the funding, it’s not totally extending an olive branch to its overseeing body, saying an increase in the level of illegal dumping and littering has been largely due to the state’s new waste levy, introduced in 2019.
Councillor for the Logan Central region Teresa Lane recently declared war on illegal dumpers, saying she was sick and tired of her suburbs being known as a tip.
She has been supported by survey evidence which shows 94% of people feel illegal dumping damages city image and pride.
Council set up an illegal dumping taskforce in April 2020, also funded by a state grant.
And last year, it dipped into its own pocket to continue the taskforce’s work, including expanded surveillance and enforcement activities.
Council also has a draft Illegal Dumping and Litter Enforcement Strategy 2022-2025. It’s been prepared, but not yet endorsed and still awaiting an internal bureaucratic consultation phase.
“This forward-looking strategy, together with a future funding proposal to support the life of the roadmap, will be put to Council for consideration shortly,” council’s statement said.
Council’s dumping cops will cost $174,804, and they’ll “work as field investigators undertaking continued surveillance and enforcement activities”.
Council’s statement said the Illegal Dumping Taskforce has issued significant penalties in response to dumping offences.
“In recent weeks alone, the taskforce used sophisticated covert surveillance measures to identify 21 significant offenders at dumping hotspots,” it said.
“Penalties and clean-up orders were issued. The tough enforcement action prompted several of the identified dumpers to remove their illegally dumped waste at their own cost.”
Illegal dumping can be reported at logan.qld.gov.au/illegal-dumping
