Surveillance camera training to tackle illegal dumping
Council rangers in the Ballina Shire are now better equipped to tackle illegal dumping and increase prosecution rates of offenders.
Under a grant from the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded by the waste levy, Council’s officers attended a training session on the use of surveillance cameras to combat illegal dumping.
The course was run by Mr Barry Ryan – Co-ordinator of the Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad; who has close to 20 years’ experience in illegal dumping prevention and the use of surveillance cameras as a tool to aid this.
Ballina Shire Council Ranger Team Leader, Mr Joe Sabine said they were taken through the legal requirements for the use of covert surveillance cameras and techniques for the set up and use of cameras in the field.
“The rangers will now be implementing these skills at known illegal dumping hotspots in the Ballina Shire,” Mr Sabine said.
“Illegal dumping is a major ongoing problem for Council with over 300 incidents each year that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up and prosecute offenders.
“North Creek Road is a dumping hotspot, but in an effort to prevent dumping we’ve undertaken works to prevent access to the isolated end of the track. This site may also be placed under covert surveillance in the future,” said Mr Sabine.
Residents can help council tackle illegal dumping by reporting incidents online at RIDonline – ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au or phone Ballina Shire Council on 02 6686 4444.
