Tips open for green clean

By Tania Martin
A YARRA Ranges bushfire group has slammed a $290,000 green waste disposal plan, saying it doesn’t go far enough.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges last week adopted the plan that would give residents free access to the tip for a month.
All shire tips including Coldstream, Healesville, Wesburn and Lysterfield tips, will be available for free from Saturday 10 October.
It is expected to cost the council in excess of $250,000 for the free service.
Under the new plan the council will promote the option to a 240 litre bin which will cost an extra $15 per year.
The council also plans to spend an additional $40,000 on a strategy to increase public awareness.
But Dandenong Ranges Bushfire Group spokeswoman Jo Hirst said more needed to be done.
She said the green waste bin could fill up very quickly especially for residents with 30-metre pieces of bark falling from mountain ash trees.
Ms Hirst also said the tip would not be a good option for everyone.
“What about the elderly who can’t get there or people who don’t have towbars on their cars,” she questioned.
“We think you (the council) need to research a few more options.”
However Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae said people who choose to live in bushland areas needed to take some responsibility for getting rid of their fuel loads.
“It doesn’t mean that council pays for everything,” she said.
“If they don’t have the capacity to go to the tip, then they have neighbours and if they don’t have neighbours they can call on then there is something wrong with that community.”
Ms Hirst said other options the council could be looking at include setting up neighbourhood clean-up days or providing skips in local streets.
But Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said this would lead to skips being filled with mattresses and other hard rubbish.
Billanook Ward’s Cr Tim Heenan has called for residents to act now to prepare for the summer rather than wait for the free tip runs.
“I hope people won’t hold off and will start preparing right now,” he said.