Media Release

20 August 2018

Council to spend $30,000 cleaning up dumped rubbish in tomo

A council contractor recently identified to Council a large tomo on Spur Road, south of Te Kopuru, which was full to the brim with illegally dumped rubbish.

Further investigation of the area has revealed the tomo (which was a cave) is a historic site and once served as a church and a cookhouse for the local Dalmatian community who populated the area.

Due to the size of the tomo, the amount of rubbish needing to be removed, and health and safety risks associated with disease and retrieving the rubbish from the tomo it has taken some time to organize clean up. A removal crew started clearing the tomo on Friday 10 August 2018, with the work expected to take two weeks.

The current estimate the total clean-up will be around $30,000 of which approx. $10,000 is cost to dispose of to landfill.

So far nine people have been identified through evidence recovered through searching what would be years of dumped waste, household rubbish, recycling and general refuse. Investigations will continue throughout the removal, with infringement notices to be issued to those found to have dumped rubbish illegally.

The maximum penalty under the public litter act is $5000.

ENDS

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