That’s the view of Orange mayor Reg Kidd who said he was fed up with the abuse of the land by dumpers and the risks they posed to properties near the forest.

Cr Kidd told the Orange and Cabonne Shire Community Safety Precinct Committee meeting last Thursday action was needed.

He said a gate that could be locked at night and re-opened in the morning would keep dumpers out.

And he suggested a security camera be installed to monitor vehicles entering.

“It is a huge bio-security risk,” he said.

“This is so annoying for everyone, it’s been going on for six to seven years.

“If a fire started there is the risk it would get out to Clifton Grove.”

He said rotting pig carcasses, cars, household rubbish and television sets were dumped in the forest without offenders being spotted.

“You can head down the dirt road without anyone seeing,” Cr Kidd said.

Cr Kidd said the cost of installing a gate and a security camera would be recouped by eliminating the costs of cleaning up the rubbish.

“As far as I know there is only that one way in,” he said.

“It’s worthwhile, if you get a couple of prosecutions that would clean it up.”

He said council had complained to the government body who managed the forest, Forestry Corporation. 

Central West Police District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Bruce Grassick said police could look at the situation.

“We need to have a preventative tool in place,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Forestry Corporation said it was an ongoing problem.

“There are hefty fines for illegal dumping but, people who dump rubbish tend to do it covertly so it’s difficult to catch culprits in the act,” she said.

 “Restricting access to a state forest via gates may be a difficult tactic and we already have a network of hidden cameras in [other] forests which have helped prosecute culprits in the past.”