ALL-SEEING hidden surveillance cameras are helping authorities fight back against the scourge of illegal dumping in Hunter bushland.
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Five men have been fined up to $2000 each in the past three months after they were photographed dumping waste on Hunter Development Corporation land at West Wallsend and Killingworth.
Hunter Region ratepayers pay about $2 million each year to clean up illegal dumping. The Newcastle Herald has highlighted illegal dump sites at Tarro and Cooranbong in recent days.
An EPA spokeswoman said surveillance cameras were used to gather evidence of illegal dumping across a number of NSW regions.
‘‘This is just one method that the EPA uses as part of its integrated anti-dumping campaign,’’ she said.
HIDDEN bush cameras that never sleep are the latest frontline weapon against the scourge of illegal dumping in the Lower Hunter.
The motion-sensor cameras have helped nab five men who disposed of waste on Hunter Development Corporation land in West Wallsend and Killingworth in recent months.
‘‘Everything from deadly asbestos to mattresses and even a dead Shetland pony have been dumped,’’ Hunter Development Corporation general manager Bob Hawes said.
‘‘HDC would like to send a clear message that dumping rubbish in bushland is illegal and offenders are more likely to be caught now than ever before.’’
The corporation installed 10 wireless cameras across its Lower Hunter properties late last year.
The cameras run on an internal battery and transmit the images over the 3G network.
They are moved regularly to ensure the widest coverage possible of the many tracks around the area.
Among those caught was an Edgeworth man fined $2000 for multiple dumping offences, a Cameron Park man fined $2000 for dumping concrete and a Minmi man fined $250 for dumping mattresses and furniture near Holmesville.
The cameras are among a range of measures the Hunter Development Corporation has introduced to combat illegal dumping with a $150,000 Environment Protection Authority grant. Several more overt-style cameras will be introduced in the near future.
‘‘Local communities are sick of their bushland being used as dumping grounds and are monitoring their areas to report incidents,’’ Mr Hawes said.
An EPA spokeswoman said surveillance cameras were used to gather evidence of illegal dumping in several NSW regions.
‘‘This is just one method that the EPA uses as part of its integrated anti-dumping campaign,’’ she said.
Cessnock council has also trialled the use of the security cameras to monitor known illegal dump sites across its vast local government area.
Hunter region ratepayers pay about $2million each year to clean up illegal dumping. The Newcastle Herald has highlighted illegal dump sites at Tarro and Cooranbong in the past week.
Suspected asbestos sheeting and other building waste, garden waste, car tyres, furniture and household electronics make up the majority of the pollution.
While some of the items will break down over time, other materials such as plastics and electronic waste will continue to pollute the area indefinitely unless removed.
An EPA spokeswoman said there had been 49 reported cases of illegally dumped asbestos waste in the Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Maitland local government areas in the past year.
Hunter and Central Coast councils have joined forces with the EPA to form a regional squad with the aim of reducing the amount of illegal dumping and improve enforcement.
Anyone who is aware of illegally dumped material should contact the EPA environment line on 131555.
