Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

I am most disappointed to hear that, once again, some low-life has dumped decaying deer guts and carcasses of cows and pigs in a Western Bay waterway. This time they were dumped in a waterway which flows into the Maketu Estuary and risked blocking a culvert and floodgate. The animals had been in the water for quite a time before being found. This follows a similar occurrence in August, when sheep guts, skins and heads were dumped in the Wairoa River.

Such behaviour is reprehensible. Apart from the pollution impact of such offal on our water quality, it is a health and safety risk for users of the waterways and for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's staff, who have to remove the organic waste. I ask myself who would care so little about our environment to do such a thing? Were the animals stolen? If so, they represent a loss to the affected farmers as well as a health and safety hazard and environmental pollutant.

Another concerning waste problem is the dumping of household rubbish in public places, which is often seen in rural areas of the Western Bay. Illegal dumping is one of those issues that can only be addressed through community vigilance. We need members of the public to report any suspicious behaviour and note details of vehicles, people's clothing and times of the day dumping occurs, so a prosecution could be taken. Any suspicious activity, or illegal dumping, should be reported to police or Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.

If you have any views on this, or any other issue, please email me at: neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150.