Council to receive funds to fight illegal dumping
The Palaszczuk Government is providing $145,438 in funding to Moreton Bay Regional Council to help crack down on illegal dumping.
Member for Murrumba, Steven Miles said illegal dumping had a serious impact on the local community.
“It’s great to see this much-needed funding coming to our local council.
“The funding includes $90,000 that will help Moreton Bay Regional Council to employ a new illegal dumping officer, hold target programs, boost intelligence and enhance reporting on illegal dumping activities.
“Nobody wants to see rubbish dumped illegal in our beautiful environment and this grant will help to prevent that from happening,” he said.
Member for Pine Rivers, Nikki Boyd said the Palaszczuk Government is providing a total $5 million across Queensland to help councils combat illegal dumping.
“Illegal dumping costs Queensland communities millions of dollars each year, and this funding will help at a local level, to ensure a clean and safe community, while protecting the environment.
“We have seen the success of the local government pilot partnership program, where we have already helped four councils increase jobs to combat illegal dumping.
“Thanks to the success of this pilot, we are now expanding the program across Queensland, with more than $3.6 million going to 29 Queensland councils to fund a total 31 new dedicated illegal dumping field officer positions.
“The Palaszczuk Government is currently fighting a war on waste, and we are ensuring that councils have the support they need to tackle this issue, to protect the environment and create local jobs,” she said.
Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch said in addition, the Palaszczuk Government is also providing $1.3 million in funding to 32 councils across Queensland through a dumping hotspot program, to support regional programs that tackle illegal dumping at a local level.
“We are providing an additional $55,438 to Moreton Bay Regional Council to help support local illegal dumping programs that will target illegal dumping hotspots through community engagement and awareness.
Ms Enoch said the Queensland Government takes illegal dumping very seriously.
“Corporations that are found guilty of illegal dumping can face fines of up to $667,250 in some circumstances,” she said.
“By working together, we can send a strong message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated and it’s up to all Queenslander’s to do their part to keep our state clean.”
For more information, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/waste/litter-illegal-dumping
Councils in the Moreton Bay region receiving funding include:
• Moreton Bay Regional Council will receive $90,000 to employ a new full-time officer to tackle illegal dumping.
• Moreton Bay Regional Council will also receive $55,438 to target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities. Particularly targeting and identifying illegal dumping of asbestos with enhanced rapid analysis capability.