Grubs turn nature reserve into dump
COUNCIL is planning a major crackdown after illegal fly-tippers struck at a northern Gold Coast nature reserve for the second week running.
Locals were furious on Monday to find a large collection of household waste had been dumped overnight in the reserve at Pine Ridge Rd in Coombabah.
The junk appeared just days after council workers had cleared a truck-full of old sofas and mattresses from the same spot, which adjoins the environmentally sensitive Coombabah Lakelands Conservation area.
Scott Lingard, who lives in a complex beside the reserve, said the dumpers were spoiling the area for local residents.
“In the past, there’s been the occasional bits and pieces left there – a mattress, a TV, that kind of stuff – but in the last two weeks it’s been masses of stuff,” Mr Lingard said.
“The one over the weekend
MOST GOLD COAST RESIDENTS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRIDE IN THEIR SUBURBS, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING A SHAMEFUL LEVEL OF DISRESPECT FOR OTHER GOLD COASTERS CR CAMERON CALDWELL
looks like someone has literally emptied out their garage and dumped it here.
“It’s in a spot where it’s literally next to the driveway of the complex I live in.
“It doesn’t leave a great impression of the street, and it’s wasting council’s time cleaning it up. It gives a really crappy view of the area.”
Division 3 councillor Cameron Caldwell said it was extremely disappointing the area had again been targeted over the weekend.
Mr Caldwell said council officials were investigating a number of leads in relation to the first dumping incident, with offenders facing fines of up to $2875 for individuals or $10,783 for corporations.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that people use suburbs as a dumping ground when we have free tips,” Mr Caldwell said.
“Most Gold Coast residents have an enormous amount of pride in their suburbs, and these people are showing a shameful level of disrespect for other Gold Coasters,” he said.
“Following my recent Facebook post, we have had a number of leads, which have been passed on to council officers to investigate.
“We have requested extra signage and covert surveillance to be placed at that location to catch and deter offenders.
“Unfortunately, illegal dumping breeds more illegal dumping, which is why we are clamping down on that particular location so that it doesn’t continue to be a problem,” Mr Caldwell said.