By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Ranges residents have been spared another rise in tip fees, but are paying through their rates as the council picks up after illegal dumpers.
The high cost of tip fees was identified by Mail readers as one of the perceived factors in an increase in illegal dumping over the past year with roadsides and bushland regularly littered with anything from garbage bags to building materials.
The annual clean-up bill for ratepayers is more than $200,000, according to Yarra Ranges Council spokeswoman Tracey Varley with the equivalent of about 30 garbage trucks of rubbish being picked up around Yarra Ranges.
Vineyard employee Jarrod King was left to clean up after a truck load of bricks and concrete were dumped in Spring Road at Coldstream.
“It’s the second time in as many weeks, last time they dumped it inside the property,” he said adding that there were other areas around Coldstream that were regular dumping spots.
Ronald Grove parkland in Millgrove was identified as a dumping ground by Rosemarie Griggs who said the increase in recent months was horrendous.
Kerri Rodway from Healesville said while tip prices were ‘ridiculous’ a lack of care and respect for the environment, ignorance and selfishness all played a part.
“There are so many areas being affected,” she wrote on the Mail’s Facebook page.
“Just take a drive along any bush track in Yarra Ranges, or quiet side road, or stop at any roadside rest spot along a major highway and there is rubbish dumped.”
Sam Talbot said tip prices and reduced tip times is a factor and wrote that one hard rubbish collection a year is not enough.
Addressing tip prices, Michael Strickland from Yarra Ranges Recycling Services, which has the contract for transfer stations (tips) at Coldstream, Wesburn and Healesville, said while landfill fees and government taxes went up, the company had decided to absorb the cost.
Ms Varley said in many cases the council had been able to identify dumpers and when caught they were fined and made to clean up the rubbish at their own cost.
“If they don’t co-operate they are taken to court and ordered to pay fines and any clean-up costs borne by council,” she said.
Where people can’t be identified, council cleans up and ratepayers bear the costs.
She said much of the material dumped was household rubbish which could be put in household rubbish or recycling bins.
Other items including paper, cardboard and bottles and metal including such things as fridges, washers and roofing iron can be taken to the local transfer stations to be recycled at no charge.
Anyone who witnesses illegal rubbish dumping is urged to take a vehicle number, or other identifying details, and report to Yarra Ranges Council on 1300 368 333.
