Queensland cane farmers call out ‘disgraceful’ illegal dumping on their land amid safety concerns

Cane grower Andre Camilleri is no longer shocked when he finds a random mattress or microwave in his paddocks.

But an increase in dumping on farms has Queensland growers worried about the impact of potentially dangerous waste on their businesses and families.

“I’m quite sure they wouldn’t like it if we come and dump waste in their front yard,” he said.

“It’s not different just because we own our own farm.”

Mr Camilleri, based near Mackay, said his family was now on high alert after struggling with illegal dumping for several years.

“We could be walking in the side of a paddock and stand on a syringe, you just don’t know,” he said.

“I’ve got sons, and my father helps on the farm too, he’s getting up in age, so we’ve got to be vigilant for everybody.”

‘Truckloads of stuff’

CEO of Canegrowers Mackay Kerry Latter said the safety risk was a major concern.

“We’ve got whole families, this is their front and backyard,” Mr Latter said.

“Kids are out there as well, they help on the farm.

Joe Schembri is another cane grower who has experienced extensive dumping on his property for years.

“There was one dumping there where I think everything was dumped other than the kitchen sink,” Mr Schembri said.

Mr Latter said it was not uncommon for growers like Mr Schembri to experience dumping of waste that went well beyond regular household rubbish.

“When we talk about rubbish, we can be talking about mattresses, we can be talking about washing machines, microwave ovens,” he said.

“We’ve seen clothes dryers, we’ve seen sheets of iron, sheets of phosphorus or fibrous material, and hazardous waste in drums or containers that have been dumped there.”

Another cane grower based just outside Mackay, John Muscat, said the issue was widespread.

“We’ve had truckloads of stuff dumped, which we’ve had to load up and cart away ourselves,” he said.

“All my neighbours say the same thing.”

Call for harsher penalties

The Mackay Regional Council is responsible for managing the issue locally.

Mr Muscat said while he has reported specific incidents to council, he felt it was limited in what it could do.

“Council followed it up, [the dumpers] denied it and nothing could be done,” he said.

However, Mr Latter said he believed the council had been actively trying to deter illegal dumping.

“The council is working very hard,” he said.

Mayor Greg Williamson said last year’s clean-up rate for illegal dumping was about 62 per cent, which council considered high.

He said employing a designated illegal dumping officer last year, under the state-funded Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program, had increased the council’s ability to tackle the problem.

“Their role [is] to investigate, respond to and carry out enforcement in terms of illegal dumping in our community,” he said.

Mr Williamson said this year council would again be employing an illegal dumping officer.

He also encouraged farmers who have experienced illegal dumping to contact council.

“We work very, very closely with cane growers, and generally we’ll go in and assist with the clean-up,” he said.