Toowoomba Regional Council to propose local law to curb outbreak of abandoned trolleys

Supermarkets and people who are caught taking trolleys away from centres could be penalised under an upcoming council local law.

EYESORE: Toowoomba Regional Council has floated creating a local law to help reduce the amount of shopping trolleys being abandoned across the city, like here at the O'Quinn Street Park.

People who abandon shopping trolleys in Toowoomba’s parks and waterways could be fined and objects’ owners penalised under a proposed new local law being developed by the council.

Councillor Nancy Sommerfield’s motion to develop a new law earned significant support from her colleagues at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting, which she said could give the organisation “real teeth” to curb the ugly trend.

Ms Sommerfield said she had been prompted to push for new laws after receiving a number of complaints of trolleys being dumped along residential streets as well as creek beds.

“They’ve become quite an eyesore in our beautiful city and we’ve become like a toothless tiger,” she said.

“I’ve written to Coles and Woolworths to get action on it and we’re having some difficulty with it.

“There were something like 19 trolleys in the CBD one weekend — it’s a big issue for people, it’s a litter issue, it’s a visual pollution issue and it has the potential to cause issues with our waterways.”

Ms Sommerfield suggested the council’s law could be modelled off similar legislation by the Ipswich City Council, which requires large supermarkets and retailers to install a wheel lock containment system to make the trolleys harder to move.

ICC officers will also fine residents more than $260 for taking a cart outside its designated retail area.

While she didn’t oppose it, councillor Carol Taylor said the council needed to be considerate of the city’s less fortunate residents, who often used shopping trolleys to move groceries home instead of a car.

“There are a lot of people who can’t afford a lift and they take their trolleys home because they don’t have an alternative,” she said.