Tip fees a major factor in illegal dumping problem

A pile opposite Wyangla Avenue grew following a rental property becoming empty, weeks later as the pile continued to grow and spill onto the roadway it was finally taped off, then removed to be replaced within days by another continuing to grow pile.

Part of the answer is simple, the cost of dumping materials at the Lucas heights Waste centre is out of touch with reality. Check the Suez/SITA website.

For example, green waste is charged for at a minimum rate of $33. As is scrap metal at $116 per tonne. Mattresses are $60 each.

Gas bottles and batteries attract fees also — gas bottles $2.50 per kilogram of container capacity so that a 9kg BBQ gas bottle would be $22.50. 

The price schedules are displayed as you enter the weight bridge, too late then to turn back.

This amounts to a double dipping by the site operator for not only does the consumer have to pay an exorbitant amount to discard these materials but the waste management franchise gets the benefit of reselling the scrap steel/metal for recycling, the lead from batteries similarly and the green waste is remanufactured into garden soils and mulch which is also resold.

Surely if the fees for dumping these materials were lower, and the recycled material was resold for a slightly higher price (user pays) the ratepayers would not be faced with these ongoing and increasing costs for other peoples care less attitude, negligent and illegal behaviour.

Frank Letterman, Miranda

Governments, local and state, should deliver a big fat NO to the Kurnell Peninsula development plan (Leader, February 10).

Having lost what should have been heritage protected sand hills, this proposed massive conglomeration of apartments and hotels stretching across many hectares represents a second round of commercial excess with a capital E. 

The idea that foreshore areas of the site would be made available to the public should be a seen as a poor sop for allowing such an overdevelopment.

As if there wasn’t more than enough large development taking place from Taren Point to Kurnell to Cronulla - none of it killing the peninsula and beachsides with kindness.

Graham Cassidy, Cronulla

It appears the Holt family company Besmaw aren’t finished with their systematic development of the Bate Bay foreshore.

The decimation of the once grand sand hills to below sea level , has turned a once wide and enjoyable beach into an eroded strip of sand used as a 4WD car park.

Now to be “regenerated” into more dwellings, sorry, “condominiums” ,crammed together like the appalling Green Hills Estate.

Stages 3 and 4 of this urban sprawl are already in place and can be seen from the air.

The next step will be reclaiming the Botany Bay mangroves with a congested four lane highway to Kurnell.

Gordon Roberts, Sylvania

Has anyone visited the toilet in the  carpark under Supabarn in Sutherland lately?

Twice recently I attempted to use it but was driven back by the smell, no light, faeces on the floor and toilet seat and bowl, even smeared on the wall. Who operates this atrocity?

Even if carpark owner contracts out cleaning  it should be made responsible for this public health hazard.

Sutherland Shire Council must investigate unless it wants to be known  as that " filthy shire in the South"

Jeff, Jannali