Concerns voiced about Porcupine Lookout used as dumping ground

Concerns have been voiced about Porcupine Lookout being used as a dumping ground.

Rubbish has again accumulated at one of the town’s much-loved tourism destinations which features sweeping views looking down to the township and out towards the plains.

In recent weeks, Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group amassed another trailer load of rubbish.

Volunteers take great pride in their role in conserving and restoring the environment at the lookout.

However, regular incidents of illegal dumping have become frustrating.

Some members who live nearby often visit regularly collecting rubbish, as do regular walkers and visitors.

The area, which is a Crown reserve, is managed and maintained by Gunnedah Shire Council.

Landcare member George Truman has encouraged community members to be vigilant and report any incidents of illegal dumping.

Mr Truman said the issue of rubbish, and the dumping of household goods, had been a particular issue up at the lookout.

“The tyres are the biggest problem,” Mr Truman said.

When the most recent trailer load of rubbish was packed and sent to the dump, the tyres alone cost about $80 to dispose of.

Mr Truman said dumping down the side of the cliff-face was also an issue.

People have reported witnessing others blatantly back up their vehicles and offload their rubbish.

“We did quite a big clean-up earlier this year,” Mr Truman said.

Mr Truman has urged the community to be aware of the issue of illegal dumping.

If witnessing people in the act of dumping their rubbish, Mr Truman urged people to report it to the appropriate authorities.

Gunneda Shire Council’s community safety manager, Tony Krawczyk, said illegal dumping continues to cost the Gunnedah Shire community up to $10,000 a year to clean up.

“In the last financial year, household waste accounted for almost 50 per cent of reported incidents, followed by construction and demolition at almost 11 per cent,” he said. “Due to the prevalence and increase in illegal dumping, council is purchasing a new portable surveillance camera trailer to help the council collect evidence and hold offenders accountable.”

Mr Krawczyk said the council urges residents to report illegal dumping online at ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au or by phoning or emailing the council with any details of dumping they have witnessed, including the location, date and time of dumping, types of dumped materials, name and address of responsible persons, and associated vehicles and registration numbers. Photographs can also be helpful in the investigations.

“This important information will help council find the offenders so penalties can be handed out to those who dump rubbish in our shire,” Mr Krawczyk said.

“On-the-spot fines for illegal dumping start at $1,000 and are as high as $15,000, so for the sake of the environment, and your wallet, we’re asking residents to do the right thing and place rubbish in their kerbside bins or take it to a waste facility where it can be disposed of appropriately.”

If the dumped waste is an emergency or includes toxic fumes or a large chemical spill, call 000 and report it immediately. If it is an immediate threat to human health or the environment, call the EPA Environment Line on 131 555.