A 56-year-old man caught on camera emptying a trailer load of waste in Korung National Park has been fined $5000 in Midland Magistrates Court.
Duncan Edwards Hepple, who did not appear, was convicted and fined $5000, as well as costs of $744.35, for dumping a fridge, car body parts, furniture and lubricants in bushland near Canning Mills Road in the City of Kalamunda on February 20 this year.
On March 2, after being contacted by environmental regulation officers, Mr Hepple returned to the site to remove the dumped waste – an act captured by the same covert camera.
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READ NOWIllegal Dumping Program officers invited Mr Hepple to meet on March 20 to discuss the incident but he failed to attend.
Senior manager of investigations Matt Warnock said the conviction was an example of the effectiveness of covert surveillance in the prosecution of illegal dumpers.
“This offender knew that his actions were wrong when dumping this rubbish, as demonstrated when he later returned to the site to remove his dumped items,” he said.
Illegal dumping can be reported to the 24-hour Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 or via email at pollutionwatch@dwer.wa.gov.au.
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