Partnerships for Prevention – Bathurst’s Illegal Dumping Action Plan

MEDIA RELEASE 12July 2022

The community is invited to a workshop to help develop the Bathurst Illegal Dumping Action Plan and build on the success of recent campaigns to curb illegal dumping activities across the local government area.

Council has been working with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority through the Partnerships for Prevention grant program to combat illegal dumping across the LGA.

Mayor Cr Robert Taylor said illegal dumping incidents spiked during the COVID lockdowns in 2020-21 with approximately 250 dumping incidents in an 18 month period, a 156% increase compared to previous year.

“To help combat this illegal dumping trend Council has deployed several mobile illegal dumping monitoring cameras at hotspots across the region and implemented a community focused communication strategy. This has included educational social media campaigns, advertising in print and radio media, installation of informative signage and participatory workshops.

“The campaign is working. We have seen a drop in illegal dumping incidents, they are down by 47% in 2022. This is encouraging, but there is more to be done.

“We encourage the community to continue to report illegal dumping activity and to come along to the community workshop planned for Wednesday 27 July.

“The two hour workshop will give community members a chance to provide feedback and inform the development of Bathurst’s Illegal Dumping Action Plan and discuss preventative measures and strategies,“ Cr Taylor said.

The workshop will be held at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre at 2.30pm. To RSVP give Council a call on 6333 6211.

This grant project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority, Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.