Dave Dudley from TIDY Up Townsville announces plans to reduce activity of group

The founder of a group aiming to tidy up Townsville has announced it’s the end of an era, as he plans to take a step back after helping clean up tonnes of rubbish over the past six years.

Pictured on state land, David Dudley, TIDY UP Townsville Coordinator, has had enough of the illegal dumping around Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The founder of a group aiming to tidy up Townsville has announced it’s the end of an era, as he plans to take a step back after helping clean up tonnes of rubbish over the past six years.

Dave Dudley, along with Duncan Fyfe, have cleaned up tonnes of rubbish in the last six years, as part of their work in creating the TIDY Up Townsville group.

With hundreds of volunteers and numerous events organised to clean up illegal waste and litter, Mr Dudley said they have “run out of steam”, with a lack of government assistance also to blame.

“We’ve had countless meetings and discussions but it’s never achieved anything,” he said.

“It’s frustrating.”

Andrew Chatfield and Dave Dudley from TIDY with rubbish collected at Bushland Beach. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Dudley has assured that the group would continue to run as a “visual and vocal platform” and would concentrate their efforts on the Bohle region, but have said they would no longer be doing large clean up events or “big actions”.

“We’ve been busting our chops for six year, ourselves and hundreds of other volunteers, and we’ve been debating over the last few months about how long we can keep going at this level,” he said.

Dave Dudley, Tidy Up Townsville co-ordinator, under the Bohle River Bridge on Dalrymple Road. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We’ve decided we can’t, it’s impossible.”

Mr Dudley said a lack of government support and changes in the legislation of illegal dumping has not done much to deter illegal waste dumping.

He thanked the Townsville community and business community for their support over the years for helping to make the region a more beautiful place.

“We’ve achieved things from that aim, but the real aim was to try and get the government to take responsibility for this and whether that’s local or state or federal, to drive the change we need to clean up the place,” he said.

“They just haven’t come on board.”

Back in May, Mr Dudley told the Townsville Bulletin that stronger penalties and deterrents are needing, after the State government announced a new reporting system and a new

$130m Less Landfill, More Recycling Plan.

Dave Dudley in 2020.

The Environment Minister Andrew Powell said at the time the plan would see the government working with councils to come up with solutions to end illegal dumps and see more materials being recycled and reused.

Mr Dudley said he encouraged locals who do come across illegal dumping sites or rubbish to use the Snap Send Solve app.

He also encouraged anyone wanting advice to contact him via the TIDY Up Townsville Facebook page.

On the future of Townsville’s rubbish problem, he said he seen an increase in the frequency of illegal dumping and fears it will continue to get worse.

“There’s a lot to it. It’s not just about the dump fees, essentially a lot of these people are lazy grubs,” he said.

“We just want to see a nice, clean city.”

Originally published as Dave Dudley from TIDY Up Townsville announces plans to reduce activity of group