Council takes out top award for tackling illegal dumping
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Leo Kelly has congratulated Council's Engineering staff on winning the 2008 Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia NSW Division Excellence Award in Environment at Council's Ordinary meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
2008 marks the second consecutive year that Council has received recognition in the awards, this one being for the 'Investigation into Unauthorised Landfilling in the Blacktown City Local Government Area' project.
The project uses a combination of the latest technologies in an innovative approach for detecting and measuring altered landforms, which can often lead to uncovering illegal dumping zones.
The project involves a system that monitors, takes remedial action and deters future breaches in illegal dumping by utilizing Airborne Laser Scanning and aerial photography of the Blacktown City Local Government Area. The scanning and photography is conducted over a period of time and then the differences are compared.
"The technology is so unique that it can achieve accuracy of round 150mm, and has allowed Council to identify over 400 illegal sites and to take legal action against a number of offenders", Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Leo Kelly, OAM said.
The use of this technology can in time help Council minimise the number of uncontrolled and unauthorized land filling, which can have major impacts on floodplain and riparian zones.
"I do not think people understand the damage illegal dumping can do to our environment, illegal dumping can alter the course of the floodwaters lead to huge environmental damage to creeks and river systems", Mayor Kelly continued.
"This project is a great initiative of the Engineering staff of Council and further demonstrates Council's leadership and forward thinking when it comes to the environment".
"I extend on behalf of the Council, congratulations to all involved in the project. Awards such as these are a positive reflection upon this Council and one we can all be proud of", Mayor Kelly concluded.
Council anticipates that the project will in the longer term deter people from offending.
Illegal Dumping in Blacktown City can incur an on the spot fine for polluting land which carries a minimum penalty of $1,500 and corporations can be fined a maximum $1 million, whilst individuals can reach $250,000 and in some cases involve legal action, with major costs incurred by land owners for the removal of illegal landfill.