Blue Mountains City Council has secured NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) funding to step up efforts to tackle illegal dumping, with a new targeted campaign set to clean up hotspots, strengthen enforcement and protect the region’s World Heritage environment.
The Council says the funding will support a coordinated program of on-ground works, prevention measures, staff training and community engagement to reduce illegal dumping and improve safety outcomes across the Blue Mountains.
Mayor, Mark Greenhill welcomed the grant, saying it would deliver practical action where it is needed most.
“Illegal dumping has no place in the Blue Mountains. It damages our environment, threatens public health and puts unnecessary pressure on Council and the community,” Mayor Greenhill said.
“This funding allows us to take a stronger, more proactive approach – cleaning up impacted areas, preventing future dumping and working with our community to protect this unique World Heritage landscape.”
As part of the program, Council will remediate and restore sites impacted by illegal dumping, including the safe removal of hazardous materials such as asbestos and contaminated soil. Rehabilitation works will help protect native vegetation, waterways and the recreational value of affected areas.
Targeted prevention measures will also be rolled out across known dumping hotspots, including Hat Hill Road, Park Street in Lawson, Ridgewell Road, Cliff Drive, Hawkesbury Road and Marmion Road. These will include a mix of fixed and portable CCTV, gates, bollards, variable message signage and improved regulatory and information signage.
Council says it will also develop a suite of short, animated training videos covering key risks at illegal dump sites, including asbestos, mould, manual handling, lead and chemicals. These resources will be used across staff training and public-facing platforms to reinforce safe handling, reporting and lawful disposal practices.
Mayor Greenhill said community awareness would be central to the campaign’s success.
“Protecting the Blue Mountains is a shared responsibility,” he said.
“We’ll be engaging directly with residents to promote legal disposal options and make it easier to report illegal dumping through RID Online.
“These actions will help reduce illegal dumping at known hotspots, improve health and safety outcomes and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of Council’s Illegal Dumping Strategy.”
Council encourages residents to report illegal dumping via the RID Online reporting system https://ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au/ or by contacting Council directly.
