Grants and funding

Current rounds

There are no illegal dumping grants currently open for application.

Closed rounds

Keeping Queensland Clean: Illegal Dumping Grant Program

The Keeping Queensland Clean: Illegal Dumping Grant Program provided up to $500,000 (excluding GST) in grants to eligible recipients for projects which seek to reduce illegally dumped material and ensure its appropriate disposal or recovery.

Grants of up to $50,000 (excluding GST) is provided for activities to remove hazardous illegally dumped waste and/or, illegally dumped waste that is difficult to access or requires specialist equipment to remove due to the location or size of the material.

Eligible entities that applied for a grant included Queensland Primary Producers, Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies, Nature refuge holders, and Special Wildlife Reserve managers.

More information about the Illegal Dumping Grant can be found in the Keeping Queensland Clean: Illegal Dumping Grant Program – Guidelines for applicants (PDF, 416.7 KB) .

Grant applications closed on 7 March 2022 and saw 11 successful applicants receiving a total of $269,156.80 GST inclusive.

Recipient Name

Project Activity

Amount (ex GST)

Jude Hicks

Funding for the removal of illegally dumped materials from Keilambete Station.

$6,700

Phillip Marano

Funding for the removal of materials illegally dumped on a Home Hill property located on the banks of Burdekin River.

$43,040

Dan Carew

Funding for the removal of approximately 270 end of life truck and tractor tyres that were washed onto a Memerambi property during a flood event.

$23,194

Cilla Pershouse

Funding for the removal of illegally dumped materials from a cattle property in Ban Ban Springs as well as exclusion fencing to prevent future access to the location.

$31,500

Alfred Burow

Funding for the removal of approximately 1,300 end-of-life tyres that were illegally dumped on the access road to a sugarcane farm.

$7,000

Robert Silvini

Funding for the removal of various types of material illegally dumped in a salt pan on a property in Breameadows.

$31,689

Southern Gulf NRM

Funding for a collaborative project between the department and Southern Gulf NRM for the removal of approximately 48 illegally dumped car bodies along roads in the Mount Isa Regional Council area.

$13,380

HQ Plantations Pty Ltd

Funding for a collaborative project between the department and HQ Plantations for the clean-up of illegally dumped materials at several locations in Beerburrum Plantation Forest, Tuan Toolara Plantation Forest, Wongi Plantation Forest, Burnett and Downs Plantation Forest, Mary Valley and Kuranda Plantation Forest.

$38,646

John Mudge

Funding for the removal of several car bodies, machinery and tyres that were illegally dumped on Mount Ruby Station in the early 1980's.

$44,400

Patricia Billic

Funding for the disposal of illegally dumped end-of-life tyres from a property in Silkwood.

$139

Tony Bartolo

Funding for a collaborative project between 4 sugarcane farmers for the removal of illegally dumped materials on their properties.

$5,000

Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program – Round 2B

Successful applicants under Round 2B of the Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program include projects totalling $2.3 million across 21 participating councils.

The funding allowed councils to employ 17 dedicated illegal dumping compliance officers for 12 months, and purchase compliance related equipment. Activities will focus on the investigation and prevention of illegally dumped waste.

In 2024 additional funding of $810,000 was provided to nine of those councils to continue the employment of dedicated illegal dumping officers for a further 12 months.

More information can be found in the Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program Guidelines: Grants Round 2B (PDF, 876.1 KB) .

Applicant NameApproved Funding (ex GST)
Aurukun Shire Council$200,000
Banana Shire Council$250,801
Burke Shire Council$245,000
Flinders Shire Council$10,000
Goondiwindi Regional Council -  withdrawn$8,170
Gympie Regional Shire Council$219,920
Isaac Regional Council$216,863
Livingstone Shire Council$264,164
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council$67,040
Maranoa Regional Council$12,490
Mornington Shire Council$130,500
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council$121,939
Noosa Shire Council$184,018
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council$213,000
Paroo Shire Council$135,145
Redland City Council$262,239
Somerset Regional Council$6,150
Southern Downs Regional Council$147,186
Torres Strait Island Regional Council$170,000
Whitsunday Regional Council$199,608
Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council$97,500

Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program – Round 2A

Successful applicants under Round 2A of the Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program include projects totalling $2.9 million across 27 participating local governments.

The funding allowed councils to employ 31 dedicated illegal dumping compliance officers for 12 months.

In 2023, additional funding of $2.22 million was provided to 25 of those Councils to continue the employment of a dedicated illegal dumping officers for a further 12 months.

In 2024, additional funding of $1.87 million was provided to 21 of those Councils to continue the employment of a dedicated illegal dumping officers for a further 12 months.

Applicant NameApproved Funding (ex GST)
Balonne Shire Council$270,000
Brisbane City Council$360,000
Bundaberg Regional Council$348,000
Burdekin Shire Council$223,862
Cairns Regional Council$168,000
Carpentaria Shire Council$230,000
Cassowary Coast Regional Council$290,396
Charters Towers Regional Council - withdrawn$56,211
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council$270,000
Douglas Shire Council$283,852
Fraser Coast Regional Council$270,000
Gladstone Regional Council$293,340
Gold Coast City Council$360,000
Hinchinbrook Shire Council$270,000
Ipswich City Council$366,650
Lockyer Valley Regional Council$289,722
Logan City Council$354,804
Mackay Regional Council$281,577
Mareeba Shire Council$263,669
Moreton Bay Regional Council$271,000
North Burnett Regional Council$210,000
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council$90,000
Rockhampton Regional Council$289,449
South Burnett Regional Council$264,085
Sunshine Coast Regional Council$231,000
Townsville City Council$270,000
Western Downs Regional Council$176,000

Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program – Round 1

Round 1 of the Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program (Program) provided $3.6 million in funding to councils over 12 months to monitor, act on and prevent illegal dumping activities.

The Program was based on a 6-month pilot partnership with four councils. These councils were chosen based on several criteria including the number of illegal dumping incidents reported over a two year period, environmental damage and proximity to built-up areas.

The four participating pilot councils were:

  • Fraser Coast Regional Council
  • Bundaberg Regional Council
  • Townsville City Council
  • City of Gold Coast.

The Program funded additional on-ground officers to investigate and prevent illegally dumped waste entering Queensland’s environment. Funding was limited to a maximum of $200,000 per council.

Successful applicants under Round 1 were announced in 2020 and included 20 projects totalling $3.6 million across 27 participating local governments.

The funding supported councils to employ 31 dedicated illegal dumping compliance officers for 12 months and included four joint local government projects, to maximise the delivery of the illegal dumping compliance projects in regional Queensland.

Collaborating Councils

Approved Funding (ex GST)

Townsville City Council

Burdekin Shire Council

Charters Towers Regional Council,

Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

$630,000

South Burnett Regional Council

North Burnett Regional Council

Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council

$158,500

Mareeba Shire Council

Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Carpentaria Shire Council

$369,550

Individual Councils

Approved Funding (ex GST)

Balonne Shire Council

$129,460

Brisbane City Council

$199,947

Bundaberg Regional Council

$185,701

Cairns Regional Council

$200,000

Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council

$78,000

City of Gold Coast Council

$185,000

Douglas Shire Council

$84,042

Fraser Coast Regional Council

$99,000

Gladstone Regional Council

$114,722

Ipswich City Council

$200,000

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

$91,080

Logan City Council

$175,627

Mackay Regional Council

$134,710

Moreton Bay Regional Council

$90,000

Rockhampton Regional Council

$164,894

Sunshine Coast Regional Council

$180,297

Western Downs Regional Council

$131,080

Local Government Illegal Dumping Hotspot Grants Program

The Local Government Illegal Dumping Hotspot Grants Program provided $1.35 million in funding to councils to support projects that aim to prevent or reduce illegal dumping in hotspot areas.

These projects included prevention activities, behaviour change programs, infrastructure development, education projects, and surveillance projects. The program also funded the collection of comprehensive data for the identification of illegal dumping hotspot locations to support future prevention or intervention activities and strategy development.

More information regarding the Hotspot Grants can be found in the Local Government Illegal Dumping Hotspot Grants – Guidelines for applicants (PDF, 1.5 MB) .

Council Name

Project Summary

Funding Amount
(ex GST)

Balonne Shire Council

Identify illegal dumping hotspots, increase awareness within the community and local businesses, conduct clean-up activities, and target correct disposal of tyres.

$57,500

Brisbane City Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots through increasing covert and overt surveillance and installing additional signage at hotspot locations.

$59,526

Bundaberg Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by installing interventions such as signs and physical barriers. Conducting advertising campaigns, clean-up activities, surveillance and compliance at these sites.

$42,593

Burdekin Shire Council

Target riparian and beach illegal dumping hotspots by removing existing waste, installing signage, conducting surveillance and a public awareness campaign.

$59,094

Carpentaria Shire Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$60,000

Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community awareness raising, installing signage and increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$20,500

Central Highlands Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by increasing engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities. Introducing learning activities for local schools to increase awareness of correct disposal of waste.

$60,000

Charters Towers Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots through an advertising campaign, clean-up activities, installing fencing and signage and conducting surveillance and compliance activities.

$20,000

Cook Shire Council

Gather baseline data on the location, waste types and scale of illegal dumping in the region to identify hotspots.

$20,000

Douglas Shire Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots for clean-up activities and the development of educational videos to raise awareness of illegal dumping impacts and reporting.

$22,053

Gladstone Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities. Introduce learning activities for local schools to increase awareness of correct disposal of waste.

$34,323

City of Gold Coast

Target kerbside illegal dumping hotspots outside multi-unit dwellings by trialling several intervention methods to increase reporting and awareness of alternative disposal options.

$57,692

Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Gather baseline data on the location, waste types and scale of illegal dumping in the region to identify hotspots and conduct clean-up activities.

$18,498

Livingstone Shire Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage, physical barriers and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$43,972

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Conduct a large-scale multi-media advertising campaign to encourage community reporting, responsible disposal and illegal dumping penalties. Install signage and increase surveillance to reduce illegal dumping.

$60,000

Logan City Council

Target kerbside illegal dumping by developing an illegal dumping strategy, resident toolkit, installing signage and raising awareness of reporting illegal dumping. Focus particularly on tenanted or multi-unit dwellings and engagement with both Real Estate Agents and Body Corporates.

$59,798

Mackay Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by installing interventions such as signs and physical barriers. Conducting advertising campaigns, surveillance, and compliance at these sites.

$33,000

Maranoa Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$14,001

Mareeba Shire Council

Reduce and prevent illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising by installing signage and delivering an advertising campaign.

$9,000

Moreton Bay Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities. Particularly targeting and identifying illegal dumping of asbestos with enhanced rapid analysis capability.

$55,438

Mount Isa City Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots through a targeted advertising campaign, clean-up activities, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$60,000

Noosa Shire Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots through installation of signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$50,149

North Burnett Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by collecting and mapping baseline data. Installing signage to support community engagement and awareness raising and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$10,985

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

Targeting illegal dumping hotspots for clean-up activities, installation of signage and the development of educational videos to raise awareness of the impacts of illegal dumping and reporting.

$51,290

Paroo Shire Council

Targeting tyre dumps and other illegal dumping hotspots for clean-up activities, installation of signage and increased surveillance and compliance activities. Engage the community through the development of educational material to raise awareness of illegal dumping impacts and reporting.

$45,600

Rockhampton Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$54,024

South Burnett Regional Council

Gather data on illegal dumping to establish a baseline data set to support the development of litter and illegal dumping intervention strategies and actions.

$14,300

Toowoomba Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots through increased surveillance and compliance activities. Conduct a targeted advertising campaign, community engagement, clean-up activities and install signage.

$60,000

Torres Shire Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage and conducting increased surveillance, compliance activities and clean-up.

$59,800

Torres Strait Island Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage, and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$42,689

Townsville City Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by increasing engagement and awareness raising, installing signage, and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities. Conduct targeted community surveys to support marketing and education program.

$31,392

Whitsunday Regional Council

Target illegal dumping hotspots by conducting community engagement and awareness raising, installing signage, and conducting increased surveillance and compliance activities.

$60,000