$2,580 fine for man caught illegally dumping in Townsville Town Common

A litter grub has copped a huge fine for illegally dumping rubbish in the Town Common. See how the authorities caught him.

The Townsville Town Common.

A litter grub has been fined $2580 for illegally dumping rubbish in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park.

Remote cameras set up by park rangers captured the man’s ute with rubbish in the tray entering the town common on March 16, 2025, and video of it leaving with an empty tray.

Rangers from DETSI (Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation) performed a search and found the dumped rubbish, which included aircon units, empty boxes, and other general waste.

DETSI’s Jackie McKeay said the department’s Litter and Illegal Dumping Compliance Operations issued a show cause notice to the driver of the vehicle.

“The man admitted that he dumped the waste in the conservation park, and he went back to clean it up,” Ms McKeay said.

Dumped rubbish found in the Townsville Town Common in March, 2025. A ute was captured on remote cameras, and the driver was fined.

“He was issued with a penalty infringement notice for $2580. This fine is a reminder to Queenslanders that our remote cameras can be anywhere, at any time.”

This news comes just two days after passionate bushland cleaner, Dave Dudley of Tidy Up Townsville, called for harsher penalties and more patrols to prevent illegal dumping around Townsville.

Townsville TIDY Up co-ordinator Dave Dudley is seeing red over illegally dumped remains of copper thefts. Picture: Dave Dudley.

“The problem is massive and it’s not getting better,” Mr Dudley said.

“This is damage that lasts 1000 years.”

Ms McKeay said the illegal dumping of waste was not only a pollution risk, but a fire hazard as well.

Dumped rubbish found in the Townsville Town Common in March, 2025. A ute was captured on remote cameras, and the driver was fined.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal dumping, and we investigate every report we receive,” she said.

“Recently, the Queensland Government made it easier for people to report illegal dumping with the new Litter and Illegal Dumping Online Reporting System.”

According to the Queensland Government website, 75 per cent of the reports they receive from the public about dumped waste or littering result in the registered owner of the vehicle (or boat) receiving a fine.

Originally published as $2,580 fine for man caught illegally dumping in Townsville Town Common