These include $1500 fines for anyone caught dumping rubbish, a telephone hotline and a $1000 reward for information which leads to the successful conviction of dumpers.

A special response team of cleansing and maintenance staff and community safety officers have also been ordered to carry out daily inspections at known dumping ``hot spots''.

The action was initiated by Cr John Chedid, a long-time campaigner against rubbish dumping, who was touched by a letter from a young Rosehill resident.

The Sun reported onDecember 2, the distress of Laith Jammal, who wrote that he felt ashamed of the large pile of rubbish dumped on the footpath outside his Virginia Street home when he invited school friends to his 11thth birthday party.

Laith said the ``man made mountains of rubbish'' outside the entrance to his home were ``like stepping through a slum''.

``I was very embarrassed bringing my friends here,'' Laith wrote.

Cr Chedid said there had been ``an explosion'' in the rubbish dumping problem recently, particularly around parts of Rosehill and Harris Park.

He moved the adoption of the crackdown on illegally dumped rubbish at the Council's meeting on Monday, December 7.

``This problem impacts on everyone. It looks terrible and attracts vermin,'' Cr Chedid said.

``There is a large pile of rubbish outside a block of townhouses on Hassall Street. This is one of the main road entrances to the city. What does this say about Parramatta?''

Lord Mayor, Paul Garrard, said cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish cost the community more than $800,000 a year.

``Council has already started issuing clean-up notices to people who have put the health and safety of their neighbours at risk and we will continue to do so as long as people keep dumping rubbish on footpaths,'' Cr Garrard said.

Letters have been sent to all body corporates in the Parramatta area and pamphlets and other promotional materials have also been distributed to residents.

Residents and body corporates suspected of illegal rubbish dumping in public places will be issued with a clean-up notice and have to pay $433.

Cr Garrard said if they failed to comply with the notice, an on-the-spot fine of $750 for individuals and $1500 for corporations would be imposed.

The dumping hotline number, 1800 386 733, will be operational in the new year. In the meantime, reports of illeaglly dumped rubbish can be made to the council's customer service number, 9806 5050.