LOCALS say illegal dumping is becoming a large problem in the idyllic hamlet of Stuarts Point.

Tranquil walking trails are being marred by local rubbish being dumped instead of taken to Kempsey Shire Council Waste Management Centres.

News Of The Area spoke with Karyn Martin, who has owned a home in Stuarts Point for the last 13 years and has now retired to the town permanently with her husband.

“I’ve been really disappointed with the rubbish that’s dumped on the walking trails,” she said.

“You can see that some of the items have been here for a long time.”

There are lots of residents that clean up walking areas such as paper, bottles, and dropped items as they walk.

However Karyn would like to see the larger items removed like building waste, toilets, drums, and car parts.

“I’ve been able to source about eight people who are willing to help with the removal of larger items with utes and trailers.

“We were hoping Kempsey Council could help us with reduced or free vouchers to Council sites to dump rubbish collected.”

News Of The Area contacted Kempsey Shire Council in regards to the illegal dumping, and the proposal of free access to waste sites.

Giles Hardie, Kempsey Shire Council said, “Kempsey Council takes illegal dumping very seriously and we are aware it is a significant issue in Stuarts Point.”

“The dumping on Stuarts Point bush tracks will be investigated by our Rangers as the first concern, and determine how this occurred and prevent future dumping.

“Council would love to support and offer reduced or free waste disposal rates on a case-by-case basis.

“However, there are a large number of factors to take into account including quantity, type of waste and potential inclusion of materials that could harm the volunteers or need specialised treatment, such as asbestos,” said Giles.

Kempsey Shire Council, who waive fees once a year for Clean Up Australia Day, say working with the community on these issues is hugely important.

Council’s waste team assisted the community on last year’s Clean Up Australia Day to get rid of a large number of dumped cars and large rubbish.

Taking advantage of machinery in the area, the team organised for Council to collect all the dumped cars and placed them in a central location for Matthews Metal to come and collect.

Stuarts Point residents are also very active in the Clean Up Australia Day movement.

Council’s Waste Team say they would be happy to meet with the locals in question to better understand the issue and try to come to some solution.

Kempsey Council encourages anyone who identifies illegal dumping hotspots or sees illegal dumping in action to report the offence via RIDonline, the EPA’s online reporting service, at https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/litter-and-illegal-dumping/report-illegal-dumping

or call Kempsey Shire Council on 65 66 2300.

 

By Karen GRIBBIN