Outrage as ‘we’ dump on Melton

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG residents have outraged their municipal neighbours by dumping rubbish in Melton, according to its council.
Melton Shire chief executive Neville Smith revealed at a council meeting that surveillance cameras had caught people from Geelong in the act dumping unwanted household goods at two of the shire’s charity shops.
Mr Smith told council the shire had used motorists’ number plates to identify the culprits.
Melton Mayor Bruce Rowan suspected Geelong residents were also dumping on rural properties.
Cr Rowan said he was appalled at “this selfish act”.
“I think this has shown total distaste for your fellow people of our communities,” he said.
“I don’t see us as two communities; I see us as one big community.”
Cr Rowan said a tip truck “from out of town” short-circuited a power grid after it’s tray hit wires while dumping rubbish on the side of a road.
A spokesperson said the shire had so far caught up to eight offenders from Geelong.
The shire had more ways than number plates to identify dumpers, the spokesperson said.
“Melton Shire council identifies offenders by various methods including vehicle registration and by sorting through dumped material to find information pertaining to the owner of the goods.
“People who dump rubbish come from a range of locations including local residents and adjoining municipalities, like Geelong.”
Dumping offences incur a $220 fine but could also lead to criminal charges, council warned.
Several Geelong charities told the Independent in February that they had recorded a growing surge in dumped rubbish.
The charities blamed rising tip charges.
Salvation Army – which operates one of the affected op shops at Melton – said its soaring garbage bill for removing unwanted household goods in Geelong was the “worst it has ever been”.
The Independent was unable to contact councillor Tom O’Connor this week for comment.
However, Geelong’s council environment and waste management portfolio-holder told a Melton newspaper the shire had no basis for the allegations.
“Our people in Geelong would not do that – (it’s) not an ethical principle that we subscribe to at all,” he told the paper.
“That’s out of character for our people.”