People living in a rapidly developing part of east Auckland are still being plagued by the ugly sight of piles of illegally dumped rubbish.
Elevation Street in Flat Bush and several surrounding streets are being used as a dumping ground by those wanting to get rid of household waste and other items.
Over two months in late 2021 numerous piles of rubbish were dumped by the roadside in Elevation Street.
They included carpet, cardboard boxes, full black rubbish sacks, a box of empty beer bottles, car tyres, a TV screen box, children’s toys, plastic buckets, household furniture, and more.
Along the road an area of grass was covered in dozens of empty beer bottles.
One local resident said at the time she and her husband, who were the only people living in Elevation Street, had seen people illegally dumping rubbish from a van in the street one night.
“They sometimes park in a spot for a while to make sure no one is watching them and then throw it out.”
More than six months on the problem doesn’t appear to be getting any better.
Photos taken by the Times recently show a grass berm in Elevation Street covered in empty alcohol boxes, bottles and cans, a mattress, a torn bag of dog food, and palm tree fronds.
Around the corner in Lime Hill Rise there are pieces of timber, building blocks, furniture, carpet, and general household rubbish.
Auckland Council Waste Solutions senior enforcement officer Jan Eckersley says the illegal dumping of rubbish “is not acceptable and we don’t condone it”.
“It’s a combination of people going into new build areas and thinking there’s no one there so they can get away with it, and to some extent it might be from developers themselves.”
Eckersley says the area surrounding Elevation Street is on the council’s “hot spot list” for rubbish dumping.
As a result it’s checked weekly and any rubbish is removed.
If evidence is found as to who dumped it, that information is passed on and followed up, she says.
“We worked with the local residents and ratepayers’ association recently and they’ve identified areas it would be good to put up signs [about illegal dumping] so we’ve put up more signs.
“They’re also assisting us with delivering flyers to residents in the immediate location.”
The flyers say there’s a problem with illegal dumping in the area, ask people not to do it, and explain how to legally dispose of unwanted items.
Eckersley says the council believes the steps it’s taking to address the problem are having an impact.
“Particularly when you consider the increase in Auckland’s population, the level of illegal dumping hasn’t gone up over the last few years.
“We see that as a really good sign that what we’re doing is working, otherwise if the population increased we would expect to see illegal dumping increase, and that’s not what we’re seeing.
“We are seeing a slow but steady slight improvement.”
People who witness illegal rubbish dumping should make note of the offender’s vehicle’s registration plate number and any other relevant details and report it by phoning 0800 NODUMP.
Those caught illegally dumping rubbish face $400 instant fines and up to $30,000 if successfully prosecuted in court.
