BY KEELY JOHNSON
The Hunter/ Central Coast Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad has tracked down and convicted a man for illegally dumping demolition waste across the Lake Macquarie and Central Coast regions, thanks to the help of a distinctly patterned floor mat and linoleum.
Investigations commenced in February of 2019, after two piles of the waste, totaling 10 tonnes, was found dumped on Marconi Road in Morisset.
Among the waste, which had clearly been affected by fire before being dumped, RID investigators uncovered distinctly patterned linoleum.
RID Investigators visited fire scenes across Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Maitland and the Central Coast in an effort to locate the point of origin of the waste, before eventually identifying a potential site in Mann Street, Gosford.
The Gosford site had been demolished and samples of the same distinct linoleum were found on the ground at the site.
Significant dumps of similar material also occurred at Catherine Hill Bay and Calga during the investigation, and strong evidence suggested these sites were linked to the Marconi Road dump.
One distinct item found among the waste dumped at Catherine Hill Bay was a partially burnt floor mat with a coffee cup pattern.
“When speaking to the owner of the site of origin during the investigation, they were able to assist by producing a number of photographs of the interior of the building taken before the fire,” said RID Coordinator Rob Robertson.
“In one of these photographs, showing the kitchen area, the intact floor mat with the coffee cup pattern is clearly visible.”
Investigators were able to produce a large brief of evidence and Court Attendance Notices were subsequently taken out against a 43-year-old Western Sydney man, in which it was alleged he was responsible for asbestos removal and waste disposal from the Gosford site.
The man was fined $20,000 for each illegal dumping offence and ordered to pay compensation for clean-up costs to Lake Macquarie City and Central Coast councils totaling nearly $30,000.
Rob Robertson says the 18 month investigation shows how seriously these matters are taken.
“The fact that someone thinks they can dump tonnes of asbestos-contaminated waste on a public street and get away with it is just outrageous."
“This was a significant pollution incident and the person responsible showed a complete disregard for both community safety and the law. The imposition of nearly $90,000 in fines and costs in Court shows how serious these matters truly are.”
