Surfin’ USA: Jeff Rowley captured in his big wave moment. Picture: Minnie Vuong
ERIN PEARSON
ILLEGALLY dumped rubbish at Surf Coast beaches and reserves is threatening the community and environment, according to the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.
Outdoor works supervisor Phil Brown said the dumping, mainly by tradesmen, was a “regular occurrence”.
Mr Brown said there were also serious health risks associated with the unsafe disposal of dangerous materials from construction sites.
The unsafe disposal of asbestos, in particular, posed a serious threat to the health of the community and environment, he said.
“Contractors have been incorrectly disposing of rubbish including large slabs of concrete at Point Impossible and other quiet areas where they think they won’t get caught,” Mr Brown said.
The committee’s Coastal Reserves manager Rod Goring said GORCC managed 500 hectares of land along the coast including reserves and beaches.
He said Point Impossible and Fairhaven areas had been identified as “hot spots” for illegal dumping.
“It’s frustrating because the cost falls back on us to pick up and remove it,” he said.
“We’re seeing it more in quiet locations and at times when people aren’t around.”
The Independent reported early last year that railway reserves around Lara had become illegal dumps for building material and asbestos, according to the state’s Environmental Protection Authority.
South West manager Gavan Mathieson said the dumps were growing as home renovators and lazy professionals sought cheap and easy ways to dispose of waste.
The authority was receiving at least one report a week, he said.
EPA’s Kate Gittings said individuals faced fines of around $1200 and companies up to $6000 if caught dumping waste illegally .
Large-scale cases could attract fines of up to $250,000 if taken to court, she said.
“It’s a really wide-spread problem that’s growing,” she said.
“If people see anything of this nature we encourage them to call our 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (372 842) and report these people.
“We rely on the community to be our eyes and ears on this issue.”
Ms Gittings said EPA could also hand out $244 fines for littering.
Councillor Ron Humphrey urged tradies to clean up their act with the coast being on show to tourists during the summer period.
