URALLA Shire Council, along with the Armidale Local Aboriginal Lands Council (ALALC), and local Uralla residents have joined forces to pick up, pull out, clean, rake and sweep at two chosen project sites.
The first project site was the Old Kentucky Landfill, Kentucky. The landfill was closed more than 30 years ago and land is now managed by ALALC.
The closest landfill is located 12km away in Uralla, and there has been some illegal dumping at the site since its closure.
Dumped materials mainly consisted of metal, tyres, and green waste.
The second site selected for this project was a parcel of land at the end of Dumaresq Street Uralla, known as Westend.
This parcel of land holds great historical significance, particularly for Aboriginals.
More than 36 tonnes of waste material was removed from this site. Due the presence of asbestos in the material, it was disposed of as asbestos waste.
This type of dumped material not only poses a threat to the environment but also to human health.
State member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall said a better community had been achieved by both organisations being able to work together.
“The opportunity to meet, reflect and celebrate the successful outcome was an important part of the program,” he said.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) provided $24,680 funding to Uralla Shire Council to clean up illegally dumped material on local Aboriginal Lands.
In the past 12 months, more than 40 tonnes of material has been cleaned up through the Uralla project.
This EPA-funded project involved contractors, the council and volunteer community members.
It is now hoped the two project sites can be used by ALALC in further activities.
Uralla Shire Council looks forward to working with ALALC and members of the Indigenous community within the shire on future projects.
