Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Material

Council’s Community Safety team is appealing for information from the public after a large amount of asbestos was found dumped in Mockinya.

Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said that the incident created a dangerous road hazard.

“This was a large deposit of hazardous material wrapped in black plastic, left on a dark country road during the night hours. Illegal littering is a routine issue, but this was a particularly dangerous act. It could all too easily have caused a serious or even fatal vehicle collision.” Mr Bhalla said.

“The community should rightly feel outraged by this, and we hope that will prompt anyone with information to contact us.”

Mr Bhalla said Council prosecuted between five and ten rubbish dumpers in court each year.

“We actively pursue convictions against offenders, as we will do in this case.” he said

“Removal by licenced asbestos contractors will come at a substantial cost to ratepayers. The cost to our community if there had been a serious accident is impossible to estimate.”

The asbestos was found dumped on the Jallumba-Mockinya Road, approximately one kilometre from the Henty Highway on Friday 30 June, before 6:30am.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Council’s Community Safety team on 5382 9777, and may choose to remain anonymous.