Six councils could combine to curb dumped rubbish problems

Burnside could join other local councils in a bid to tackle illegally dumped rubbish, as incidents surge “substantially”.

• Eastern councils struggle to keep a lid on dumped rubbish
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BURNSIDE could join other local councils in a bid to tackle illegally dumped rubbish, as incidents surge “substantially”.

The chief executives of Burnside, NP&SP, Unley, Campbelltown, Prospect and Walkerville councils – which form the Eastern Regional Alliance (ERA) – will discuss the issue of illegal dumping at a meeting on March 21.

Collectively, the councils have received more than 2800 reports of dumped rubbish in the 18 months to January 1.

Since July 2017, councils have been responsible for enforcing the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act, after the State Government shifted the burden to the local government sector.

Burnside chief executive officer Paul Deb told elected members at a meeting earlier this month the council would have to consider “additional resources” to tackle the scourge.

Burnside Council’s chief executive officer Paul Deb said the area had a serious litter problem. Picture: Supplied.

“The number of complaints in relation (to the Act) … has increased to the point where we think we cannot absorb it any further,” Mr Deb said.

“Substantial time and labour is required to collect all this dumped rubbish.

“If there isn’t an appetite through ERA … we will be putting a business case to council to look at additional resourcing.

“But it will probably include increased after-hours services.”

The Burnside Council suburbs of Glenside (18), Kensington Park (11), Magill (10) and St Georges (10) were the hotspots for rubbish dumped by unknown offenders, from a total of 201 reports in the second half of 2018.

Dumped rubbish included used needles found on The Parade, Kensington Park.

The council dedicated more than 870 hours to dumped rubbish management last financial year, and is on track to easily pass that in 2018/19.

Unley Council has recorded 202 incidents of illegal dumping in the second half of 2018, compared with 387 for 2017/18.

Burnside, Walkerville, NP&SP and Unley councils are open to the idea of a collaboration through the ERA.

Originally published as Six councils could combine to curb dumped rubbish problems