General News
11 April, 2026
Illegal dumping crackdown
A CALL for a dedicated officer and a three-year surveillance program was the next step in the fight against illegal dumping in the Douglas Shire.
At its ordinary meeting last week, council unanimously agreed to apply for a $300,000 grant from the state government under its ‘Fighting Illegal Dumping Partnership Program’.
The move would fund an additional illegal dumping compliance officer who would target hot spots for surveillance and carry out other duties under a three-year program.
In speaking to the proposal, Cr Damian Meadows said the funding would help fund what had been an “ongoing battle” of illegal dumping of waste across the shore.
“This is only going to get worse with the current economic state of the country,” he said.
“Illegal dumping has so many flow- on effects to our waterways, our native forest … this is a really good program.”
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the program would build on the current council battle against dumping.
“This program allows us to continue the proactive compliance work that’s already making a real difference,” she said.
“Illegal dumping threatens our waterways, rainforest and community spaces and this program allows us to continue the proactive compliance work that’s already making a real difference,” she said.
The council had already taken a number of steps in fighting illegal dumping with the development of an online public reporting link on its website and a contact line to identify illegal dumping.
Heavy fines are also imposed on those caught in the act with over $2700 for individuals dumping up to 2500 litres of rubbish and a minimum of $3300 for dumping over that amount.
For corporations, the penalty for less than 2500 litres is about $8300 and a minimum fine of about $12,500 if over that amount. Illegal dumping includes items such as bags of rubbish, garden waste, building materials, household goods, abandoned cars, used tyres and hazardous waste.
Resilience funding
In the meantime, local groups will soon be able to apply for support to deliver arts, wellbeing, disaster-resilience projects, following council’s endorsement of the ‘North Queensland Resilience Program Community Resilience, Arts and Wellbeing Funding Guidelines for 2026-2027’.
The guidelines outline how $455,000 will be allocated to community-led initiatives that strengthen social connection, support recovery and build resilience across the shire.
Funding must be fully distributed by June 2027, with two projects – the Living Library initiative and the Mossman Youth Intervention Project – already receiving support.
Cr Scomazzon said the program gave local organisations a valuable opportunity to lead resilience-building work.
“Our community groups know what their towns need, and this funding helps them deliver projects that strengthen wellbeing and connection,” she said.
“These guidelines ensure the process is fair, transparent and focused on building long-term resilience across the shire.”
