Ipswich City Council

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Pollution

For all enquiries or complaints about air, noise or water pollution, contact Health, Parks and Recreation Department, Ground Floor, 45 Roderick Street, Ipswich or phone (07) 3810 6666.

Overgrown Properties

Properties that are overgrown with vegetation can be a harbourage for vermin and/or a fire hazard. Vermin can carry and spread many types of disease to both humans and animals, and can also attract other animals such as snakes in search of food.

To ensure that properties are managed correctly and do not attract vermin, or become unsightly Council enforces the requirements of Local Law 18 (Nuisances).

Local Law 18 (Nuisances) has nuisance provisions for overgrown properties, visual pollution and air-borne hazards (material that is not held down safely and is likely to be a hazard).

If you are experiencing problems with a neighbour having long grass or declared plants on their property, there is something which can be done. Contact Council on 3810 6666 during business hours, and provide us with:

your name,
address,
telephone number and
address of the property concerned.

A Council officer will then visit the property and take any necessary action. If it is determined that a property is overgrown, Council officers may request the owner/s of the properties to clear the vegetation, to an extent and in a time specified in a notice.

If it is determined that the property is causing visual pollution, where objects or materials have accumulated to such an extent to detract from the visual amenity of the land, an occupier may be requested to carry out such work to remove unsightly objects or take other specific action to stop the nuisance.

If you have a problem with an overgrown allotment or you would like more information regarding these requirements call Council on 3810 6666 or e-mail council@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

Water Pollution

What is the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy?

The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 is a piece of legislation that helps protect Queensland's waterways, now and for the future. It provides a legal framework to prevent or reduce harm to our waterways and oceans and applies to every person in Queensland.

What is an Offence Under the Policy?

The policy makes it an offence for any person to deposit or release certain items into a roadside gutter, stormwater drain or creek. It is also an offence to place any of these items where they could reasonably be expected to move or be washed into a roadside gutter, stormwater drain or creek.

These items include:

rubbish
scrap metal, motor vehicle parts or bodies
tyres
building waste
sawdust
cement or concrete
a degreasing agent, paint, varnish or paint thinner
oil
an insecticide, herbicide, fungicide or other biocide
any manufactured product, or any by-product or waste from a manufacturing process that has a pH level less than 6 or greater than 9
sand silt and mud

What Penalties Exist Under the Policy?

Currently penalties for the above offences range from $300.00 to $600.00 (fines) or up to $3000.00 (court imposed).

How Can I Prevent Water Pollution?

As the policy applies to everyone you must ensure that your actions do not result in the contamination of stormwater.

Below are some ways in which you can comply with the requirements on the policy.

Paint

Remove excess paint on newspaper or old rags.
Dispose of newspapers and rags in a bin.
Wash the brushes in one container.
Rinse in a second container.
Place lids on the containers and allow to stand overnight.
Pour settled clear water onto grass or garden. Do not allow this water to flow into a gutter, drain or waterway.
Dispose of the container in a rubbish bin.

Exposed aggregate driveways

Use gravel sand bags or similar in the gutter to dam the wash off.
Use a wet vacuum to collect the slurry that collects in front of the sand bags.
Dispose of the wet bag contents on site onto grass (ensuring no runoff) and allow to dry.
When finished clean up the gutter and the wet vacuum.

Stockpiling of sand, soil or similar material

When delivering sand, soil or similar, the location where the load is to be deposited should be considered carefully. Sand or soil placed on a footpath or driveway could reasonably be expected to be washed into a gutter, drain or creek and a fine could be issued.
Stockpiles should be surrounded with sediment control devices that will prevent the runoff of sediments to the gutter or stormwater drain. A few courses of bricks, sandbags or staked plastic sheeting installed correctly around the stockpile are three examples of sediment control devices that can be used.
Water should also be diverted around the stockpile.
Covering the stockpile with a tarp will also assist in preventing runoff during rain.

Liquid wastes and waste water

All waste liquids such as radiator coolant should be collected for recycling or appropriate disposal. These coolants are harmful to the environment and should never be poured down a stormwater drain.
Another suggestion for coolants is to use wide collection trays and allow the coolant to dry out in the sun over a period of time (but do not leave containers out during wet weather where they are likely to get tipped over). Powdered remnants can then be placed in the rubbish bin.

Car cleaning/washing

Clean cars in a purpose built car-washing facility.
Do not allow water to discharge to stormwater.
Do not use degreasing agents or perform degreasing of engines other than in an approved wash down bay.

Minor servicing and maintenance

Use a ground cover sheet during any maintenance or repair of a vehicle that is not performed in a motor vehicle workshop. The sheet should be large enough to cover the whole ground area underneath the vehicle being worked on.
Use rags or absorbent material to clean up any spills on the cover sheet and dispose of these rags via rubbish bins.
A plastic waste oil collection tray, large enough to collect the waste oil should be used during any oil change service.
Waste oil should be collected in a container for recycling.
Always have sawdust or other absorbent material for liquid spills where possible and bag residues before placing in a bin.
Ensure all packaging materials are placed in a rubbish bin and are not permitted to end up in stormwater drains.

http://www.healthywaterways.org/

Last Updated 24 Jun 2008 |

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