A corruption investigation into the illegal dumping of hazardous, expired hand sanitiser in Belrose raises serious integrity questions coinciding with resident anger over proposed rate rises.
Hazardous Waste Dumped in Suburb
Large amounts of expired, high-strength alcohol hand sanitiser were illegally dumped at two sites in the northern Sydney suburb of Belrose around the Australia Day weekend last year. The sanitiser, containing over 75 percent ethyl alcohol, is classified as a biohazard, even more so when out of date.
Before council investigators could fully examine the sites, it was reported that public members had disturbed some pallets, causing the high-strength ethanol to leak into local stormwater drains.
Investigation Identifies Dumper
A council waste investigator started investigating the illegal dumping incident. Using information from a neighbouring council and security camera footage from a storage business in Pymble, investigators identified a truck loading the sanitiser pallets.
Cameras also captured the same truck near the dumping locations in Belrose. The investigator tracked down and spoke with the registered owner of the sanitiser brand involved. This person reportedly admitted responsibility verbally and initially agreed to remove the dumped hazardous material.
Interference and Integrity Questions Raised
Following this admission, a superior officer allegedly directed the council investigator not to proceed with prosecution or issue fines for the illegal dumping. It was suggested that the reasoning provided was a lack of significant harm or public benefit to justify pursuing legal action. Instead, the instruction reportedly warned the dumper that such behaviour was unacceptable.
The situation became an internal integrity concern when some sanitiser boxes appeared at Northern Beaches Council offices. These products were originally brought into the country during the Covid pandemic and expired April 2023. A field officer reported this to the council’s integrity unit, expressing concerns that council staff might have taken the sanitiser. However, the integrity unit allegedly did not take further action, considering it an internal staff conduct matter rather than a larger issue.
Corruption Watchdog Takes Over
A whistleblower confidentially reported the situation to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), providing evidence, including photographs and videos of the dumped sanitiser. ICAC assessed the information and officially listed the matter as a public interest disclosure investigation. This means the state’s anti-corruption body formally investigates the council’s actions and decisions related to the dumping incident and its aftermath.
Council Faces Financial Pressure and Rate Anger
This investigation adds to the pressures facing the Northern Beaches Council, which was established in 2016 through the merger of the former Manly, Warringah, and Pittwater councils. The council states it is experiencing severe financial difficulties and has recently proposed a large rate increase, potentially up to 40 per cent phased over three years.
This increase aims to generate an additional $57 million in revenue annually. Council management has pointed to financial strains caused by the Covid pandemic and recovery costs from storms, flooding, and ongoing bushfire threats as reasons for needing the extra funds. The rate increase proposal has sparked outrage among many residents, who have described it using terms like “disgusting” and “disgraceful,” some even suggest they might refuse to pay.
