The Qld Department of Environment is asking for the public’s help to identify the owner of illegally dumped tires found in a national park last week.
The department is tracking the person or business who dumped more than 550 tyres at three sites in or around Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
They believe the tyres were dumped sometime between Tuesday (August 5) and Thursday (August 7) at three sites along Pine Creek Road – on the corner with Murwillumbah Rd, at the edge of a dam and south of the second bridge on Pine Creek Rd.
Jackie McKeay, Executive Director of the department’s Waste and Enforcement Services division, describes the find as extremely serious.
She says the tyres could potentially have caused serious harm to what is a very sensitive environment.
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY
“Illegal dumping pollutes our soil and waterways, threatens native animals, damages fragile ecosystems, and can pose a significant fire risk,” she says.
“The fact that this occurred in Springbrook National Park, an area protected for its internationally-important conservation values, makes this incident even more concerning.
“Departmental officers are working hard to clean up the sites and to identify the person responsible.
“We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious at these locations between August 5 and 7 to call us on 1300 130 372. Callers can remain anonymous.”
Springbrook National Park is home to waterfalls, rainforests and several endangered or vulnerable plant and animal species.
It is part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest, one of five World Heritage areas located in Queensland.
EARLIER TYRE DUMPING
In June, the department announced a joint investigation into the findings out who had illegally dumped 200 tyres in the Isla Gorge National Park, 340km west of Bundaberg.
It took a 130-tonne crane to remove the tyres, first discovered in October last year.
The public can report dumping to the department; click here to visit its Litter and Illegal Dumping Online Reporting System.
