The City of Ryde has withdrawn an illegal dumping fine issued to a Putney resident on the grounds of financial hardship and has sent a letter to Mr. Yallouris apologising for any distress it has caused him.
The Mayor, Clr Vic Tagg, said he was sorry that the issuing of the fine had happened and caused anguish to the gentleman involved.
The Mayor said that Council officers were just doing their job by investigating a complaint from another member of the community regarding the illegal dumping at Kissing Point Park. A fine was issued to Mr. Yallouris only after he admitted that he had illegally dumped waste. Under those circumstances, the Ranger had a statutory obligation under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act to issue the ticket. The amount of the fine is not set by Council but by the NSW Parliament.
The City of Ryde considers illegal dumping of waste by any person as a serious issue and it should be noted that the enforcement of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 does not discriminate against any person based on age, race or gender.
The Mayor, Clr Tagg, went onto to say that the appeals process that his Council had established had acted responsibly in cancelling the fine.
Media contact: Lee Kirkland, City of Ryde, T 9952 8083
