Southern Downs Regional Council’s director of planning and environment Ken Harris said that the council had already seen reductions in illegal dumping following the lock-up of seven southern region waste facilities for use by local residents only in December 2011.
“This has exceeded our expectations based on our past experience with other facilities we’ve key-locked in the northern region, and the local residents should be congratulated,” Mr Harris said.
Now the council will introduce electronic monitoring and continue regular patrols to keep dumping of rubbish to a minimum,” he said.
“Dumping was already a problem at these unmanned waste facilities and one of the reasons we chose to secure them,” Mr Harris said.
“In general, since the changes, there have not been too many issues at the facilities. In fact, even though it is still early days, our officers have noted some improvement (reduction) in illegal dumping compared to before the gates were locked.
“So far we have had to clean up waste out the front of the Glen Aplin transfer station on just two occasions.
“We have had to replace the lock at Glen Aplin once and Ballandean twice. We have not had to pick up waste out the front of any of the other transfer stations, and there is very little waste being dumped on the ground inside the waste transfer stations (only one couch at Glen Aplin, and no large items at the other transfer stations). Compared to before the gates were locked, this is a big improvement.
“The only other issue is the gates being left open, so we need to encourage residents to close the gates, and also remind anyone if they have not yet received their key and they are eligible, to contact the council.
“Whilst no fines have been issued, our officers are currently reviewing evidence from one illegal dumping incident before Christmas, and deciding what action to take,” he said.
Cameras will also be installed at all of the unmanned waste transfer stations in the southern region, as well as all northern region unmanned waste transfer stations and bin compounds.
The council has applied for State Government funding to assist this purchase and the quality of the cameras will depend on how much the council receives in funding from the State Government. At this stage the council has not heard how much State Government funding may be allocated.
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