Residents help clean up

CLEANED UP: Spencer Gulf Towing takes away a car wreck near Iron Knob Road on Tuesday.

The City of Whyalla has completed two successful free dump days with a great response from residents and the added bonus of some helpful feedback.

A total of 29 tonnes of rubbish was dropped off on Saturday adding to the 30 tonnes delivered by residents on the first free dump day on March 2. Residents not only took advantage of the free dumping days, they also gave us some great tips on how they could be run in the future.

Among the feedback on social media there were concerns about an unsightly wrecked car visible from the Iron Knob Road and another wreck behind Stuart High School near the levy bank.

Thanks to these reports from residents, the police were informed and Council jumped in to clean up the problem. Local towing company Spencer Gulf Towing was brought in for the car near the levy bank and both wrecks were picked up by Tuesday.

Council CEO Chris Cowley said this was a good example of Council and the community working together to not only run beneficial free dump days but also identify and cleanup some unsightly spots around town.

“The response from the public to the two free dump days was outstanding and everyone appreciated the chance to get rid of some rubbish and save some real money,” Chris said.

“We had lots of positive feedback on social media and it was great to have residents report these wrecked vehicles to us.

“We can’t be everywhere, every day, so this sort of information is vital and helps us keep the city clean and tidy.”

Car wrecks aren’t able to be removed immediately with Council required to follow a set procedure when a car is dumped. We will first check with police to see if the vehicle can be moved, then with Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Department (DPTI) to see if the car is stolen or missing and also check the registration of the vehicle so we can contact the owner if possible to have the vehicle removed.

To help combat illegal dumping, Council reminds all residents that each household is entitled to one hard-waste pick-up every year thanks to Bedford Phoenix. This is not only handy for all households, it also assists people without access to transportation. To arrange your free hard-waste pick-up call Bedford on 8647 7700.

Check the lists below to ensure all your items are acceptable for collection. You will need to place the approved items out in a neat pile at the determined collection date.

HARD WASTE PICK-UPS

The following items are acceptable:

• Fridges and freezers with doors removed

• Furniture, bedding and carpets

• Metal and timber items up to 2 metres in length

• TV's, computer equipment and electrical appliances

• Pottery, crockery and wash basins

• Washing machines, dryers and stoves

• Tools and gardening equipment

• Empty paint tins and lids removed

• Tree pruning tied in bundles up to 30cm in diameter

• General waste items able to be handled by two people

The following items are NOT acceptable: 

• NO liquid waste

• NO car bodies, car parts, tyres or large scrap metal items

• NO concrete, asbestos, bricks, rocks, dirt, cement sheeting, plasterboard

• NO ammunition or explosives

• NO gas bottles, cans containing paint

• NO tree stumps

• NO items placed in plastic bags

• NO domestic recyclables such as bottles, cans or cardboard

• NO business waste

• NO other hazardous waste items as defined under the Environment Protection Act

Offenders will be prosecutied for placement of items without a booking, illegal dumping and scavenging of items for commercial gain under Council's Local Laws.

WHAT YOU SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT OUR FREE DUMP DAYS

Christine: 2 vouchers a year and avoid the line up simple.

Kelly: 2 vouchers a year would be perfect, lots of other councils do this

Tamy: Well done and thank you to all the staff at the landfill today. Another successful day which is only possible due to your team working hard all day.

Colleen: Thank you

Barbara: Well done to the workers, they were very nice and helpful.

Fred: Maybe need a better system I worked both days so missed out. Could you put a flyer or coupon in the letterbox so I got a free dump day but could go when I can would also free up the line ups

Debra: Its been a great help to my family so thankyou really appreciate it and vouchers sound like an awesome idea

Lesley: Thank you! Job well done!

Sarah:  Should do a couple more free days!

Luke: Why not make up free dump tickets available from the council, people go and collect their tickets, name crossed off a register. Then they can go any time, not just set days, would save on the need for more staff and such a insane line up.
Suzi: Luke, great idea maybe could send a free pass or two out with rates notice.

Ebonee: Should just hand out 2 free dump passes to each house hold and they can use the passes throughout the year as needed that way there isn’t a huge line up. Then everyone also gets a chance to use the free days, there are some people who will miss out because they are working or don’t want to wait in a huge line, it would cut the cost of only having 2 designated days too.

Debbie: Yes a free dump day would be great once a month then there would be less people dumping their trash out bush

Maria: When we get our council rates in the mail they could have a couple of vouchers to use during the year for a free trip to the dump, it would save having to line up for hours save of wages, your posting out our rates just add it into the same envelope.. But a great thing to do for our town.

Janet: Half price dump days instead of free... Might help stop the rubbish being dumped out Bush and pay workers wages.. Just a thought....

Terry: How about giving ratepayers 1 free day per year and we can choose the day. Avoids frustrating queues and achieves same result... encouraging people to dump responsibly

Jase: Maybe the Whyalla City Council could organize the removal of the upturned and burnt out car body at the base of Mt Laura?

Council: We’ve organised it Jason. It’s going on Monday.

Jase: Wonderful news. Thank you

Andrew: There's one still out the levies behind Stuart high

Council: Okay, didn’t know about that one. We’ll have a look Monday. Please be patient we have a procedure to follow. Need to make sure car not owned/stolen before we can tow

Angi: Yes regular free dump day would beneifit the town as less rubbish to be dumped out bush

Rosa: Counted the line, ninety people lined up at 12pm. Thanks to the workers helping unload trailers doing a great job

Tanya: Maybe a $20 day would be good as well

Saffy: Free days are good .... but rubbish was being dumped in the bush long before you had to pay to dump....and people don't dump out bush so much as they just leave their rubbish on the footpath sometimes for months.

PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

Criteria for assessing whether a vehicle is abandoned and can be removed is provided for in the Local Government Act 1999: If a vehicle has been parked on a road for at least 24 hours AND is contravening a law OR an authorised officer forms the opinion that the vehicle is genuinely abandoned, it may be removed following the process provided for within Section 237 of the Local Government Act 1999.

If you wish to report an abandoned vehicle, please contact the Whyalla City Council on 8640 3444.

In the first instance and if the owner can be found we will seek to have the vehicle removed within a reasonable timeframe by them.

Please note that if a vehicle is in a dangerous position, Council or SA Police can, at its discretion, impound or relocate the vehicle immediately.

An unregistered vehicle needs to be reported to SA Police on 131 444.