Eggshell waste dumped across Shire’s south

WHEN Shelford resident Russell Lymer first drove past a light-brown pile of rubbish off to the side of the road, he thought it was wood shavings.

Over the weeks, he kept seeing more piles until finally while on the way to golf earlier this month, curiosity got the better of him.

“I thought with all the wind we’ve been having, those wood shavings haven’t moved at all,” he said.

“So, I got out to have a look and oh my god, the smell was awful. Flies were all around them. I knew it wasn’t wood shavings then.”

It turns out that areas in the south of Golden Plans Shire had become a dumping ground for eggshells and other waste from a poultry farm, with mounds cropping up on the backroads and in bushland.

“It’s absolutely insane. They’re getting cleared and then they seem to pop up elsewhere,” Mr Lymer said.

With the piles containing both fertilised and unfertilised eggs, the municipality, together with VicRoads and a waste contractor have responded to the reported sites and cleared the heaps.

The eggshells have been dumped at several locations including at Inverleigh, Shelford, Teesdale and Wingeel, with clean-up taking place over the last two weeks.

In a statement a Golden Plains Shire spokesperson thanked the community for assistance in locating the heaps, and said the source of the dumping has been discovered.

“Under the Environmental Protection Act, council undertook an investigation into the illegal dumping and thanks the local chicken farms, egg laying farms, hatchery and their waste contractors for their willing cooperation,” the statement said.

“Through these enquiries and evidence obtained a subcontractor was identified as part of the ongoing investigation.

“Illegal dumping of all forms is a serious offence. Anyone with information on illegal dumping in Golden Plains Shire is advised to contact council at 5220 7111.”