Local councils are receiving funding for specialist officers to bolster efforts against illegal dumping.
The Queensland Government is investing $13.7 million state-wide in the Fighting Illegal Dumping Partnership Program, with $270,000 allocated to Sunshine Coast Council and $295,000 to Noosa Council.
It comes after Sunshine Coast Council revealed to Sunshine Coast News this week that it received more than 2200 community reports of suspected illegal dumping within a 12-month period.
Under Queensland legislation, illegal dumping is defined as the unlawful disposal of waste measuring 200 litres or more.
The funding for Sunshine Coast Council is for an illegal dumping officer for three years to investigate offenders, identify dumping hotspots and install and use monitoring equipment to enforce compliance.
The funding for Noosa Council funding is also for an officer for three years, to monitor surveillance equipment, investigate illegal dumping in remote locations and conduct night-time patrols in hotspot areas.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said state-wide funding would strengthen councils’ ability to catch illegal dumpers and hold them accountable.
“Illegal dumping is environmental vandalism that harms local communities, damages the environment and leaves ratepayers footing the bill,” he said via a media release.
“Councils lead the fight against illegal dumping in their communities, and the Crisafulli Government is backing 52 councils with the resources they need to catch offenders and hold them accountable.
“A key focus of this funding is the rollout of targeted night-time surveillance in known dumping hotspots, helping councils detect offenders who operate under the cover of darkness and gather the evidence needed to prosecute them.
“The message is clear: if you illegally dump waste in Queensland, there is a greater chance you will be caught, investigated and held accountable.”
Councils cleaned up more than 13,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste last year.
Sunshine Coast council receives funding to offset ongoing operational costs, through the Fighting Illegal Dumping Partnership Program.
The first program started in 2021 with the council formalising its illegal dumping program in 2023 as a permanent part of its operational services.
A council representative said the council has had two illegal dumping officers since 2021.
“They investigate suspected offences and deploy monitoring technologies that support identification of illegal dumping offenders throughout the region.”
In February, Sunshine Coast Council told Sunshine Coast News that it had received and investigated more than 6100 community reports of illegal dumping during the past three years, while Noosa Council said there were 691 incidents in 2025, which was 120 more than the previous year.
Sunshine Coast Council told SCN this week that it had received 2246 community reports of suspected illegal dumping, resulting in the identification of about 770,000 litres of waste in public spaces during the 2025-26 financial year.
Of this, the council removed around 360,000 litres of abandoned waste, with the remaining material removed after investigation.
“Council encourages residents to continue reporting suspected illegal dumping, with community vigilance playing an important role in protecting and preserving the Sunshine Coast environment,” the council representative said.
Reports can be made online, by phone or via the Sunshine Coast Council app.
SCN has approached Noosa Council for comments.
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