Johno looks for solutions to Coffs’ dirty, dangerous, illegal dumping issue Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - July 2, 2021 Discarded fast food wrappings are a common sight on Coffs Coast streets and parks. DUMPING is an issue on the Coffs Coast; an issue that is pushing the patience of local fisho and amateur landscape photographer, Johno to frustration. Standing by the open tailgate of his vehicle, displaying seven needles, Johno told News Of The Area, “I’ve just picked these needles up from behind the goal posts of the footy pitch here at Rex Hardaker Oval near Toormina. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “The needles were uncapped but I found the caps and put them on them. “Everywhere I find a dump there’s needles…heaps of them.” Johno observed the dumping situation got worse when Coffs Council cancelled its twice-yearly free curbside collection, and began limiting Bulky Goods vouchers to two per household per year. “You have to pay and it’s quite expensive,” said Johno. The Council quotes $16 for a load of 40 kilograms or less; and $306 per tonne. Alarmed at the amount of rubbish “everywhere” he said, Johno posted on Facebook that if anyone sees an illegal dump close to a waterway, he would sort it out. “I got heaps of messages, from Valla Beach to Wooli. “There was a guy at Woolgoolga who found a dump at the back of Woolgoolga beach, he came down and gave me a hand to finish it off. “When people see furniture dumped or a pile of rubbish, they add to it.” Johno has approached Council who have said they want to help “but apparently, they can’t”. “Now I’ve been told to collect the rubbish and leave it near a garbage bin and they’ll pick it up, which means double handling and there’s nothing to stop the brush turkeys and ibis pulling at it and messing it up again. “This dump is by the kids’ footy ground and rubbish goes all the way down to Boambee Creek and ends up in the ocean. “This joint (the Coffs Coast) is tourism central because of the ocean.” Johno decided he’d ring Gurmesh Singh, Member for Coffs to see what solution he might be able to come up with. A meeting is booked for Friday July 2. By Andrea FERRARI Seven used, dirty needles picked up in a few minutes out the back of the footy goals at Rex Hardaker Oval, Toormina. Johno has been told by Coffs Council to put the dumped goods he finds by a bin and they’ll collect it – this site has been like this for a week.
