I am writing in concern of something occurring in my area. Sadly there has been an illegal dumping site (now possible sites) detected near to where I am (Central Coast regional districts).
Mostly concerning is the vast amounts of trucks that have been dumping over several years maybe decades of fill and fine dust that appear to have been brought to the regions by developers and contractors for cheap disposal. I am talking from 40-100 trucks a day at times for weeks and months on end (over a year straight at one point) with no discernable use for the material, it is piled up or flattened into an unused field often when other businesses are closed or in the middle of the night.
The main thing I wanted to say is that maybe every now and then the community needs a reminder on how to spot and how to report suspected illegal dumping.
And what the difference is between 100% necessary importation and use of materials for business and landscaping purposes and the difference between that, and those illegally dumping material to avoid tip fees or for profit at the expense of safety to the surrounding area. Also how to report suspected illegal dumping to council for council to investigate if it is suspected.
The most important part I would want to get to get across is the following;
The problems with illegal dumping activity is that it;
- Increases the chance that contaminated or unsuitable material is brought into agricultural or residential zones.
- Can create hazards to the surrounding area such as fire risks, leaks into water ways and ground water, dangerous road conditions, large dust clouds that could potentially be unhealthy
- Effects future and current land use, residents and businesses.
- Other illegal activity can accompany this activity or it can create a bullying dynamic the longer it goes unchecked emboldening these individuals or groups, negatively effecting the community as a whole.
- Potentially creates pollution into waterways and air borne pollution.
Often in regional areas and smaller communities it is not the culture to speak up or report to council those that you may know or are nearby even if you suspect they are doing something wrong, but it is exactly this type of dynamic that lets this activity thrive and nefarious individuals thrive.
What may sometimes start as a landholder taking excavation material from road works or a tunnel project for some money can turn into a land holder seeking out less safe materials down the line as they begin to rely on this revenue stream. And some landholders may not live on site and may their regional property as a dumping ground for other businesses.
Please encourage the community to visit the site where they are buying materials from or source it from a reputable business in the region so they can ensure it is indeed primary soil. And ask questions about the material and where it has come from and consider the surrounding community.
If anyone in the community suspects illegal dumping I would say, try not to despair or panic ask the council to take a look. There is a good chance it may be a legitimate project, all agriculture and landscaping work needs material regularly or from time to time. Most properties regionally have had some type of material brought in. We can’t ever be 100% certain of what’s in our day to day environment already, but we can ask or report to council if we see something currently going on that is of concern or maybe unusual, unsuitable or is creating a hazard.
There is a 100% difference between needing material for legitimate agricultural, horticultural, landscaping or building projects compared to those that solely use a property or a portion of a property to dump fill/demo waste etc for other businesses to avoid tip fees and /or for their own profit.
If anyone in the community suspects illegal dumping I would say these are things that can help you think about if what you are seeing may or may not be illegal dumping (especially concerning the illegal dumping of ‘fill’ or construction/demolition waste)
- How long have the haulages of material been arriving and in what volume?
- Do you know if there is any project in relation to this material planned or occurring? Is there a project visible or on the local government planning site https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/map
- Is there a discernible use for the material given by owner, planning permissions or with council?
- Have you been told it is excavation waste or primary soil even though there appears to be plastic or building rubble in it?
- Is the amount of material justifiable for the project or legitimate business use?
- Is there paperwork for the material being provided to council matching the number and volume of truck loads you are seeing?
- Are there other types of unusable waste piling up in different areas on the site i.e. tyres, building rubble, plastic waste etc making the area look more like an actual tip.
- Do you have a reason to suspect the material is unsuitable for the area, potentially contaminated, non primary soil or is there anything in the material you see that is giving you cause for concern? (concerns regarding asbestos, lead, chemicals, unsafe materials etc).
- Are there other questionable activities happening at this site that are potentially unlawful?
- When are the haulages arriving? Working hours or middle or the night, public holidays ie times you wouldn’t expect for such works to occur.
These would be the things I would say may be helpful in people spotting this activity.
Having said that I would say that people definitely should NOT trespass or fly drones etc to investigate themselves this is risky, potentially dangerous and illegal. That is why the council exists.
If anyone is concerned and would like the council to see what they have observed, all reports with council are anonymous but if they wish to leave no details at all, completely anonymous reports to council can be done via the website where you can go to > report a concern as ‘Guest’ (written in grey below or next to the other options). This option means you do not have to leave any personal details, which may make people feel a bit safer bringing up a potentially important concern.
Name witheld
