It's time to shut the gate on 'disgraceful' illegal dumping in forest

Councillor Reg Kidd said the latest dump happened mid last week and more action was needed for the safety of Clifton Grove residents, who lived only 100 metres away.

“The last time I brought it up, they set fire to two cars. It could get to residents if it happened again,” he said.

“We have got to have a gate on there at nighttime.  It’s disgraceful.”

Illegal dumping has been an ongoing issue in the forest since 2012, with everything from burnt-out cars to animal carcasses  being left there.

Cr Kidd wants to see a gate at the forest’s entrance, which would open in the morning and close in the afternoon.

Central West Off Road Bicycle Club president Scott Charlton said the club had organised clean-up days in the past to show good faith as a recreational user, but the constant dumpings had made efforts futile.

“We’ve got to ride through the rubbish, it’s really bad at the moment,” he said.

“It would be okay if it was occasional, but we might organise a clean-up day and the next day, they dump something else.”

However, he said four-wheel-drive and motorcycle enthusiasts enjoyed using the forest’s fire trails and he did not want to see vehicular access restricted.

A NSW Forestries Corporation spokeswoman said the organisation managed 150,000 hectares of forest in the central west for the community to use free of charge, but the downside was illegal dumping.

“It is frustrating that a small number of people do the wrong thing and Forestry Corporation works closely with other government agencies, including the Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Primary Industries, to investigate illegal dumping and share information about suspicious activity,” she said.

She said private contractors were also engaged to remove rubbish. Anyone with information about illegal dumping should call 6331 2044.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au