Illegal dumping on a grand scale

The illegal dumping of rubbish in the Far North generally involves someone tipping a bag or two over a bank, but some of the locals on and around Ngapipito Road, between Kaikohe and Moerewa, appear to have adopted it as a cost-saving measure on an industrial scale.

The accompanying photo was taken on a forest road near where it meets Ngapipito Road, but aggrieved residents say some of it inevitably blows out on to the public road, where it becomes an eyesore and a cost to ratepayers.

"It's amazing what you see there, all sorts of household rubbish from bottles, cardboard and glass to playpens, a washing machine, clothing, all sorts," one local ratepayer said.

"There are three really bad areas within about six kilometres. It's along most of Ngapipito Road, not only around the forest road entrances but down banks and into the waterways in some places. Whoever is responsible for this has no respect for the land, water or anything else."

Far North District Council communications manager Richard Edmondson said people had been illegally dumping rubbish along Ngapipito Road for years.

The nearest refuse transfer station was in Kaikohe, 13 kilometres from the forested section of Ngapipito Road.

"East West Waste also provides weekly kerbside rubbish and recycling collections in most communities near Ngapipito Road, including Kaikohe, Moerewa, Kawakawa, Ngawha, Ohaeawai, Pakaraka, Tautoro and Oromahoe," Mr Edmondson said.

The length of the road and its isolated nature made it impractical for the council to monitor it, but the council did issue infringement notices (fines) if it found evidence that enabled it to identify rubbish dumpers.

"A council contractor had removed a large pile of rubbish near the road on May 3," he added.

"We haven't received an invoice for this work yet, but it is likely to be in the region of $1500.

"We will investigate the latest dumping of rubbish and get quotes to remove this.

"Clearly this is costly for the council and ratepayers, so we would encourage people with information about illegal rubbish dumpers to contact us confidentially.

"We are also investigating other ways of managing this problem."