A Parmelia man who admitted dumping a trailer-load of waste in bushland in East Rockingham has been fined $7,500 in the Rockingham Magistrates Court.
Issac Reece Lawrence HERBERT, 44, was caught on hidden cameras driving a Holden Captiva down a bush track off Wellard Road on the night of 16 February 2022. The vehicle was towing a trailer loaded with unidentified material. When it was photographed a short time later driving out of the area, the trailer was empty. Inspectors from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation later found wooden pallets, timber wrapped with artificial turf, a large round camping chair and a table tennis table on the side of the track.
The inspectors traced the vehicle and interviewed Mr Herbert, who admitted he dumped the material after what he described as a "lapse of reasonableness”. Following the interview, Mr Herbert returned to the site and cleaned up the waste.
In the Rockingham Magistrates Court on Monday 6 February 2023, Mr Herbert was fined $7,500 with $788 costs. The maximum penalty for an individual is $62,500. Magistrate Steven Malley told the court that he had seen first-hand other waste that had been dumped around the area and that offences like this were a blight on the community.
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Senior Manager Waste Operations, Matt Warnock, said dumping waste late at night on a bush track was a deliberate act that showed little regard for the environment.
“This offender could have avoided a large fine and a criminal record by simply using a tip pass,” Mr Warnock said.
“We are constantly prosecuting people who do this, with our covert cameras providing the evidence. If anyone is considering a similar act, do not assume that nobody is watching.”
Anyone who witnesses illegal dumping is asked to call the department’s Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782, email pollutionwatch@dwer.wa.gov.au or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
