Don’t Waste Our Forests is the name Central West Off-Road Bicycle Club has given to a $50,000 project to act on the problem.

The first of the working bees, to be held on Saturday, May 7, will involve moving and fixing logs to mark out parking space at the forest entrance, tree planting and a general tidy up.

Central West Off-Road Bicycle Club member and project co-ordinator Mel Butcher said while the area would not strictly be a car park, it would beautify the area.

“It’s so people don’t think it’s an appropriate place to dump waste,” she said.

“This is a great area so close to town - it’s a free area where you can take the kids and take the dog for a walk.

“It’s a good area to use rather than use it as a dumping ground.”

According to research conducted as part of the project, volunteers and NSW Forestry Corporation have removed 12 abandoned vehicles, more than 20 couches and chairs, more than 50 whitegoods and appliances, about 150 bags of household waste, about 200 children’s toys and equipment and more than 1000 bottles and cans last year alone.

“It’s quite disgusting to see it over and over again,” Ms Butcher said.

She said other measures would include signage at the forest entrance to warn illegal dumpers about fines and at the Bulgas Road intersection to encourage people to instead take their rubbish to the Ophir Road Resource Recovery Centre.

Surveillance operations in the forest will continue, and Ms Butcher said people were encouraged to report illegal dumping by visiting https://ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au.

To keep up with the project’s activities, visit www.facebook.com/dontwasteourforests.