Balonne Shire Council has installed hidden cameras at job sites and changed roads crew operating procedures in response to a recent string of fuel thefts at roadworks locations across the local government area.
Between 24 March and 2 April, Council roadworks sites have suffered four fuel theft incidents from grader and roller vehicles totalling around 400-500 litres of lost fuel, with machinery also being damaged to access the fuel tanks.
The incidents have been reported to the Queensland Police Service, along with footage and images.
Mayor, Samantha O’Toole said it was “a disgraceful act for people to be stealing fuel from the ratepayers of Balonne”.
“Our Shire covers over 31,000 square kilometres with constant roadworks being undertaken on our 3,016km road network and it is simply not feasible for our machinery to be returned to the Depot each and every night,” said Mayor O’Toole.
“As it is, this fuel supply crisis has the potential to cause devastation to our Council’s operating expenses and the last thing we need is more challenges like fuel theft.
“Losing 400-500 litres of diesel in these incidents just adds unnecessary costs to the Council’s operating budget, which ultimately leads to increased cost to ratepayers and/or reduced service levels.
“The added fact that our heavy machinery was damaged in the incidents adds yet more costs to Council, as the Plant needed to be transported back to the workshop, to have the damage fixed, then transported back out to site.”
The Mayor said Council has acted quickly following the incidents to install cameras at work sites and change work procedures to ensure machines are run as low as possible on fuel at the end of each day and parked in a way that prevents access.
“We are calling on anyone who notices suspicious behaviour at our roadworks sites, to please report it to Crimestoppers by calling 1800 333 000,” she said.
