ORGANISATIONS restoring the culturally significant Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) welcome the successful prosecution of an illegal dumper who abandoned a rubbish-filled vehicle and trailer.

An individual was ordered to pay more than $5000 after being convicted for illegally dumping household waste, furniture and hazardous items on the Helena River floodplain at Hazelmere.

The City of Swan received reports in August last year of a person attempting to dump waste in bushland.

When community safety rangers attended the site, they found the vehicle and trailer bogged and abandoned among a large amount of illegally dumped rubbish.

Following an investigation, the offender was identified and charged before failing to appear at Midland Magistrates Court on June 15, where they were convicted in their absence.

The court imposed a $2200 fine and ordered the offender to reimburse the city $1805.25 in clean-up costs and $1162.30 in legal costs.

Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association (BNAA) executive director Francesca Flynn said illegal dumping remained a persistent problem along the river.

“Illegal dumping along the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) is something we encounter far too often, and it’s incredibly sad to see the river treated this way,” she said.

“The river has deep ecological and cultural significance, and it’s great to see that recognised in this judgement.

“We hope it will deter others who may be thinking of doing the same.”

Ms Flynn said BNAA was working with the city, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) as part of a taskforce tackling illegal dumping along the river.

She said BNAA rangers were regularly removing illegally dumped waste, controlling weeds, planting native vegetation, restoring habitat and supporting volunteer groups working along the river corridor.

The conviction also comes as BNAA begins its three-year Mandoon Bilya Riverpark initiative, which aims to rehabilitate the river corridor and create a continuous natural parkland linking the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) at Guildford with the Darling Scarp in Helena Valley.

“We’re really pleased to be working closely with the city, DWER and DBCA to tackle illegal dumping along this stretch of the river,” Ms Flynn said.

“This outcome comes at an exciting time for this part of the river.”