South Burnett Regional Council gains compliance officer to target illegal dumping

Images have shown the shameful illegal dumping occurring in the South Burnett, as the council announced a new compliance officer to target the unsightly practice.

Images have shown the disgraceful state of illegal dumping in the South Burnett Region, as the council announced a new position to crack down on the practice.

Images from the region show areas covered with household furniture, whitegoods, concrete and old tyres.

This is despite residents having access to free household and green waste disposal at 17 transfer stations in the region.

The South Burnett Regional Council shared images of the shameful scenes as it announced receiving a grant for a Waste Compliance Officer to crackdown on offenders.

This is the second time the council has been able to access the scheme, with the first round uncovering 841,876 litres of illegally dumped waste across the region.

The council said during its previous program, where alleged offenders were identified, there was a 76 per cent success rate in forcing the dumper to return and properly dispose of their waste.

Mayor Brett Otto encouraged residents to take advantage of the free dumping sites, particularly given the significant costs council is forced to cover to remove and correctly segregate waste.

He also warned of severe penalties for those who continue to engage in the reprehensible practice.

“Illegal dumping can result in individual offenders facing fines of more than $2000 and corporations facing fines of more than $10,000,” he said.

South Burnett Businesses must Kingaroy, Murgon, Nanango, and Wondai waste facilities.

Commercial and industrial waste fees for disposing at waste facilities sit at $196 per cubic metre, while tires can be disposed off by both residents and businesses just $9.25 for car tyres.

The Cherbourg and North Burnett Councils have also been successful in accessing the scheme.