Brisbane City Council has launched a major crackdown on illegal dumping. A hundred new hidden cameras will help catch the city’s worst offenders in the act.

Tom Fleming reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It costs Brisbane ratepayers half a million dollars a year, but illegal dumping is still proving to be a thorn in the city’s side.

Brisbane City Council currently monitors 150 dumping hotspots but now the Lord Mayor wants residents to ‘dob in a dumper’.

Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor: “This is a crackdown, a very deliberate crackdown, and we call on the people of Brisbane to offer their assistance and advice around where they find dumpings occurred in their local areas.”

The penalties are tough, offenders risk a $2,600 fine.

Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor: “There’s no excuse for it, and no excuse will be accepted for illegal dumping.”

Residents near a popular dumping spot in Toowong say it’s a big problem.

Gabriella, local resident: “I’ve actually seen sofas, bags, beds, you know.”

There’s also another deterrent camouflaged CCTV cameras will be installed in 150 illegal dumping locations.

There were more than 1,000 reports of illegal dumping last year alone.

But the installation of a hundred new hidden cameras at dumping hotspots across Brisbane is expected to change that.

Residents are being urged to get rid of their rubbish properly.

Peter Matic, Councillor: “Council offers a range of services to help residents to get rid of their waste, such as our large item collection, which we run annually. Also, the vouchers we get as ratepayers to take our items to our recycling and waste centres.”

Tom Fleming, QUT News.