Woman fined for silence over illegal dumping offence 

Belinda Annette Della Valle appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday 12 July 2021.   
   
She was charged under section 27(1a) of the Litter Act 1979  after she failed to provide details about who was driving a Holden Rodeo utility that was photographed in Torogoyle Reserve in Wattleup on 6 January 2020.    
   
The photographs showed what appeared to be a male person driving the vehicle with a tray full of waste into the area, then leaving shortly afterwards with an empty tray. The waste was later discovered by Department of Water and Environmental Regulation inspectors.   
   
Ms Della Valle was in possession of the vehicle at the time and was required under the Litter Act 1979  to provide details of the person who was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence.    
   
DWER acting Senior Manager Waste Operations, Cliff Bliss, said people were required by law to supply information about who was driving a car when it was used to commit an offence.   
   
“In this case the offender could have avoided a penalty by simply supplying information about who was driving at the time of the offence,” Mr Bliss said.   
   
Illegal dumping can be reported to DWER's Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 or to pollutionwatch@dwer.wa.gov.au.