Illegal rubbish dumpers face a crackdown with Ballarat Council vowing to work with other agencies to clean up the growing problem in the region.
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The council will apply for state government funding to tackle illegal dumping in conjunction with Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning who are also responsible for care of local bushland.
The move comes as weekend dumpsters tossed bags of household rubbish, including toys, clothing, shoes, and baby goods, along Wilson St in the Woowookarung Regional Park.
The unsightly mess was strewn along the roadside heading in to the former Canadian State Park, despite someitems appearing in good enough condition to have been donated to a charity shop.
City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said illegal dumping was an ongoing and expanding issue throughout the municipality.
Mr Demeo said Woowookarung Regional Park and the Creswick State Forest were hot-spots for rubbish dumping. He said the amount of waste discarded along roadsides had decreased, but the amount of household, construction and other trash left in in forests and isolated areas had increased.
“We have ambitions of a broader strategy project working with DELWP and Parks Victoria and are looking for some state funding, in partnership with agencies, to be more proactive with enforcement, potential prosecution and education,” he said.
“Prosecution is not a desirable outcome but necessary, as one of the very big deterrents is the likelihood of being discovered.”
Under the Environment Protection Act 1970, offenders can be prosecuted in court with maximum fines of $6342.
Parks Victoria senior ranger Paul Fernando said rangers worked closely with council to remove rubbish around Woowookarung Regional Park.
“Rubbish dumping is destructive to the environment and the community’s enjoyment of our beautiful natural areas,” he said.
“While rubbish dumping in parks and reserves is unfortunately an ongoing issue, there is increased community vigilance and reporting of prohibited behaviour to Parks Victoria.”
Staff also monitor known hotspots and pass on information provided by the public, to Victoria Police.
But repeated pleas from some ratepayers for the council to instigate a hard waste collection will not be entertained.
“Council has in the past investigated that and from a cost benefit analysis it’s not something that council has supported,” Mr Demeo said.