Central Coast Council slugs illegal dumper $36,000 and investigates clue to Mannering Park mess | photos

Council and the Hunter/Central Coast Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad are also investigating items found in a pile of building waste dumped at the entry to Mannering Park.

Locals hope that a bag which contained a receipt from a drive-through restaurant might assist the authorities in tracing the truck believed responsible for dumping the load on the side of Vales Road.

Council recently removed the Mannering Park mess shown in our picture.

The Warnervale incident, investigated on behalf of council by the RID Squad, resulted in fines and recovery of clean-up costs of $36,000.

The illegally dumped haul comprised building and demolition waste which originated from Sydney.

Council’s environment and planning group leader, Scott Cox, said the fine re-enforced the important role of the RID Squad in identifying and investigating instances of illegal dumping.

“Illegal dumping is a crime and council is proactively seeking out illegal dumpers and taking the appropriate action to fine or prosecute them where required,” Mr Cox said.

“In this instance, the outcome is a result of community reporting combined with over six months of intensive investigation involving interviews and evidence gathering to identify the key perpetrators.

“Council was able to identify and fine an interstate waste disposal company and the driver involved issuing $12,000 in fines and recovering $24,000 in clean-up costs.

“If the perpetrators had disposed of the waste in accordance with EPA standards, it would have cost them less than $20,000.

“This clearly shows it does not pay to illegally dump on the Central Coast.”

Illegal dumping includes any waste that is not lawfully disposed of, such as building and demolition materials, vegetation or green waste, unwanted furniture, whitegoods, TVs, computers, asbestos and contaminated soil and unwanted tyres and car parts, Mr Cox said.

On the spot fines for illegal dumping start at $2000 for individuals and $4000 for companies.

Court action for serious offences can result in fines of up to $250,000 for individuals and $1 million for companies.

“Council takes illegal dumping very seriously,” Mr Cox said.

“We encourage the community to be proactive and report suspicious activity involving dumping of waste or the incidence of private landfill.”