Illegal dumping in Vaucluse has spiralled into a crisis, with licensed hauliers allegedly being paid to dispose of rubbish at landfills but instead leaving refuse at roadside hotspots. Outraged by the return of waste just weeks after a major clean-up, St Thomas MP Cynthia Forde has urged urgent, whole-of-society action to stem the tide of environmental neglect.
Speaking during Tuesday’s debate in the House of Assembly on the resolution for the acquisition of land at the Windsor and Lower Greys junction to facilitate the construction of a roundabout, the veteran parliamentarian used the opportunity to draw national attention to what she described as a shameful environmental and public health crisis unfolding in her constituency.
Forde revealed that the Ministry of the Environment had recently been compelled to undertake a major clean-up operation in several well-known dumping hotspots across Vaucluse, including Shop Hill, Hangman’s Hill, Jack-in-the-Box Gully and Grandview. According to her, this intervention led to the removal of hundreds of tonnes of illegally discarded waste, a task made all the more urgent by the staging of a recent motor rally in the area.
“They cleaned it up for the motor rally just last month. We removed all of it, I have all the photographs and everything. Would you believe mattresses, all the old stoves and the equipment in canteens or in hotels, are lining Vaucluse again? It is hurtful, it is shameful. Where are we going with the free education?” she questioned.
In a further indictment, Forde pointed to the disturbing allegation that some of those engaging in illegal dumping are doing so while being paid—as licensed hauliers—to legally dispose of refuse at the Mangrove Landfill.
“When we know, when we know that when the illegal dumping is taking place, it’s going to have a vermin and so, and unfortunately some of the people who are removing that kind of refuse from the places [and illegally dumping them] are being paid [as] hauliers to dispose them in the Mangrove Landfill,” she said.
While she commended health inspectors for their efforts in trying to stay ahead of the situation, Forde stressed that more must be done through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, in order to wrestle the frustrating issue to the ground.
She said: “I want for the health inspectors to continue to do their work. I had a visit with them too, and they did a fairly good job, but I want all of the synergies to come together and let us as a government and as a people work hand in hand to be able to make sure that our roads are safe.” (SB)
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