Lake Macquarie council to increase dumping surveillance after $331,000 clean-up bill

newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council will increase surveillance at illegal dumping sites and install new barriers after spending $331,000 cleaning up dumped waste in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Hunter Central Coast Regional Illegal Dumping Program report recorded almost 1300 incidents and nearly 7500 tonnes of illegally dumped waste across the Lake Macquarie local government area.

The increased monitoring will coincide with a community awareness campaign encouraging residents and businesses to report dumping and use available disposal services. Planned deterrents at dumping hotspots include concrete barriers, gates, fences and bollards.

“Illegal dumping damages our bushland, waterways and wildlife habitats and places a significant financial burden on our community,” Mayor Adam Shultz said.

He said the money spent on clean-ups could otherwise have been invested in parks, roads, playgrounds and community facilities.

The report also listed $82,100 in clean-up costs for other landowners and $9900 for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Offenders were required to pay a total of $7400 in clean-up costs.

Across the local government area, offenders were issued 13 clean-up notices, eight official cautions and 78 penalty notices.

Household waste, including furniture and appliances, accounted for more than 56 per cent of dumped material. Tyres, commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition material were the other main contributors.

The vast majority of incidents occurred on council land, where almost 700 separate dumping locations were identified.

Council’s environmental compliance team leader Shane Sykes said Local Aboriginal Land Council land was the next most frequently targeted, with 46 locations. This has prompted a partnership between the council and Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council to share resources and knowledge to tackle dumping.

Mr Sykes said alternatives were available for people needing to dispose of unwanted items.

“Many items can be disposed of through our bookable bulky waste service or Community Recycling Centres,” he said.

Lake Macquarie residents are entitled to two bookable kerbside bulky waste collections in a 12 month period, or drop-off vouchers to take waste to Awaba Waste Management Facility.

Mr Sykes said community reports helped identify offenders, and council compliance officers worked closely with the NSW Environment Protection Authority to investigate dumping.

“Every report helps us investigate illegal dumping and take appropriate action,” he said.

The awareness campaign will include radio and bus shelter advertising, social media, website content and community education. It is an EPA initiative under the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy, funded through the waste levy.

More information is available on Lake Macquarie City Council’s illegal dumping page.