Dumpers to get the message

The bulk of the rubbish dumped in Church Road appeared to be contained within the tarpaulins, but some had gone down the bank or had scattered along the road.

Church Road Kaitaia residents were incensed to find a large quantity of household rubbish on the road on Monday, and want the people responsible get the message.

Two documents were found, giving names and addresses in North Road and Bonnetts Road, and one especially outraged resident setting out on Tuesday to confront the owners.

Both documents have been passed on to the Far North District Council, although not with any great hope that anything will come of that.

A dark-coloured ute had been seen in the vicinity, and while it was not clear whether it had been used to cart the rubbish there, one near neighbour went to both addresses on Tuesday to see if he could find a vehicle of that description.

Much of the rubbish appeared to still be contained in large tarpaulins on the side of the road, but some had fallen down the bank and some had been scattered along the road.

It included a child's bicycle, apparently in good condition, toys, a teddy bear, plastic bottles, carpet, monopoly money, furniture and one large onion.

Far North District Council general manager district services Dean Myburgh told the Northland Age in November that the council shared residents' frustration over the illegal dumping of rubbish, which was costing ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars a year to clean up.

Where the council had evidence of who was responsible, it would always issue infringement notices or take court action, and it had six months to do so.

On Tuesday the Northland Age asked the council what action had been taken over the dumping of a substantial quantity of rubbish, which had yielded a name and address, near Opononi in September.

A response had not been received at edition time yesterday.

Meanwhile Bay Bush Action volunteers has helped clean up what a spokesman described as a huge dump site in Opua Forest.

Four truck loads and one trailer load had been removed, and there was still more to go.

"Rubbish attracts more idiots to dump their rubbish, so we needed to get on to it fast," the spokesman said.