Council targets illegal dumpers following concerning increase in cases

Published on 13 August 2026

Council will undertake a major clean-up and surveillance operation at Illawong Drive in the coming weeks as part of its ongoing commitment to tackling illegal dumping across the region.

Heavy machinery will be brought in to remove large volumes of illegally dumped waste.

Over the past 12 months, council has responded to more than 560 reports of illegal dumping, resulting in the removal of more than 545 kilolitres of waste from the natural environment.

Mayor Williamson said the volume of waste being illegally dumped was alarming.

"To put that figure into perspective, 545 kilolitres is the equivalent of about 2270 household wheelie bins worth of waste being dumped across our region," Mayor Williamson said.

"Illegal dumping damages our environment, impacts the amenity of our communities and places an unnecessary financial burden on ratepayers," he said

Individuals caught illegally dumping can face on-the-spot fines of up to $3454, while corporations can be fined up to $12,952.

A range of surveillance measures, including night vision cameras, will be installed at Illawong Drive and other known hot spots to help identify and deter offenders.

"If people think they can dump rubbish under the cover of darkness and get away with it, they should think again," Mayor Williamson said.

"We will be installing surveillance equipment, including night vision cameras, and we will continue working with authorities to identify and prosecute offenders wherever possible.

"To make legal disposal easier and more accessible, council allocates approximately $750,000 each year to provide waste vouchers, allowing households to dispose of eligible waste free of charge at council waste facilities.

Mayor Williamson said there was no excuse for dumping rubbish illegally.

"Council provides a range of legal disposal options, including waste vouchers, to help residents dispose of waste responsibly," he said.

"Those who choose to illegally dump rubbish are not only harming the environment, they're shifting the cost of clean-up onto the broader community.

"Every item that is dumped illegally has to be investigated, collected and disposed of, and the cost of that work is ultimately borne by taxpayers and ratepayers rather than the people responsible."

Mayor Williamson encouraged residents to help protect the region by reporting illegal dumping incidents.

"Council is committed to investigating illegal dumping, but we need the community's assistance," he said.

"If you witness illegal dumping or come across dumped waste, please report it through Snap Send Solve or contact council on 1300 MACKAY."