Illegal dump site in Whangarei cleaned up, will be monitored

Two contractors remove illegally dumped rubbish from the bank on the side of Karaka Rd. Photo/Michael Cunningham

A Whangarei District Council staff member is vowing to personally monitor the site from which 45 cubic metres of illegally dumped rubbish was removed.

It took two days of dirty work for a crew from Northland Waste to clear the site at Karaka Rd in Parakao.

Whangarei District Council waste and drainage field officer Grant Alsop said he would be personally monitoring the site to ensure dumping did not resume.

"When we become aware of hotspots like this one we monitor it."

As well, he said a sign would be put up and he would be asking the council's roading team to keep an eye out, not just at this site, but for any other illegal sites in the district.

"We're going to need support from the community to report these illegal sites."

A second illegal dumping site was discovered at Puhipuhi Rd last week and Mr Alsop said a programme to clear the site would be put together in the coming days and the clean-up would begin "in the near future".

Northland Waste invoiced the council for almost $200,000 excluding GST, in the last financial year for the labour and tip fees associated with cleaning up illegal dumpings.

That figure does not include the cost to clean up Karaka Rd, which Mr Alsop estimated would be between $20,000 and $25,000. He estimates Puhipuhi Rd will be similar.

Mr Alsop said the council is working with Northland Regional Council and EcoSolutions to provide education programmes to primary and intermediate students.

He wants to get into high schools to keep the message of respecting the environment going "because if it's not there they forget about it".

The Let's Talk Rubbish have your say event is being held in the Cafler Suite at Forum North on July 27 at 5.30pm. Mr Alsop encourages everyone to head along and offer ideas about all things rubbish.