UPSET residents are fed up with litterers frequently scattering rubbish throughout Victoria Park – leaving others to clear up the mess.
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On Sunday a broken basketball ring, metal pole, old blankets and tub were spotted dumped under a large tree, metres from an oval.
Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association member Brian Pola said this reflected the lack of appreciation and respect some had for the park.
“It reflects that the park is under appreciated by some,” Mr Pola said.
Members of the Ballarat Dog Obedience Club regularly use the park and are confronted with broken bottles and shredded paper.
President Norm Baker often sees rubbish carelessly strewn through Ballarat parks and forests –something he deems disgusting and unacceptable.
“It’s disgraceful that people do that – everything from car bodies to mattresses,” Mr Baker said.
Mr Baker understood no dogs had ever been harmed or bated by malicious rubbish dumpers – but believed the rubbish was dumped out of lack of care.
He urged residents to use the plethora of tip services available and not to disrespect valuable park locations.
Ballarat City Council hopes an effort to team up with the community through the establishment of a Clean Ballarat committee will help eradicate the problem.
Councillor Belinda Coates confirmed a council-community committee would form in the new year.
“We need to take a broad approach and community vigilance is essential as well,” Cr Coates said.
The committee would focus on educating the public on the importance of preserving parklands like Victoria Park.
Cr Coates said community involvement was imperative to solving the problem.
“It’s extremely important (to protect our parklands) because they are valuable assets,” Cr Coates said.
“It is all of our responsibility to look after them," Cr Coates said.
She said there were no excuses for dumping rubbish – with hefty fines and penalties handed out to those who littered.
“People get two free tip vouchers, you reuse an item or use online sites like free-cycle,” Cr Coates said.
“It’s an age old problem.”
Cr Coates warned littering offenses were not treated lighting.
Looking at the rubbish among trees at the park, Mr Baker could not understand how others could ruin a community area through carelessness. He said rubbish dumping had a flow-on effect with someone inevitably forced to clean the mess.
Report any rubbish to Ballarat City Council.
