Illegal dump horrifies tourist

TRULY AWFUL: An Auckland tourist came across 30cu m of rubbish while driving through native Northland bush.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A patch of rubbish "the size of two netball courts" has remained in native Northland bush for more than a month, with a tourist describing it as a "truly awful sight".

The illegal dump prompted visitor Emma Lamont-Messer to contact police, after she spotted it while driving back to Auckland from Russell last month and it's still there. She described it as containing three cars, with "bagged and loose rubbish, including computers, wires, cabling and other material".

"My estimate was that the total affected area covered the size of two netball courts. Although it was not possible to see how far the rubbish had gone down the hillside," Ms Lamont-Messer said. "It was truly an awful sight, in such a beautiful environment."

The site is located on road reserve owned by Far North District Council about half way along Ngaiotonga Rd, which passes through Ngaiotonga Scenic Reserve administered by the Department of Conservation.

Ms Lamont-Messer said her husband immediately reported the rubbish to the police, who referred it to FNDC.

FNDC's general manager infrastructure and asset management Jacqui Robson said the dump was being investigated, with involvement from Northland Regional Council and DOC.

"The volume of rubbish is huge, at least 30cu m and includes several car bodies. The site is very steep and inaccessible, requiring a detailed removal plan to be prepared," she said.

FNDC had received at least three complaints from the public about this particular patch, but Ms Robson said dumping had been ongoing along the road for several years. She could not comment on how the rubbish was being investigated, or how many parties she thought had contributed to it.

"The dumping is under investigation and I don't wish to prejudice the investigation's outcome," she said. "The council wishes to identify all perpetrators and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

FNDC were not the only council struggling with illegal rubbish dumping. In Whangarei, complaints about rubbish being left outside rural dumps have increased almost four-fold after a cut in transfer station hours last year.