A WASTE drop-off point in Messmate Road is becoming Torquay\u2019s dirty little secret, with concerns it is being exploited by lazy residents and businesses.<\/p>\n
The 24-hour site, which is managed by the Surf Coast Shire, is regularly cleared by Cleanaway but quickly fills up again with rubbish, which occasionally blows away and lands in the surrounding grassland.<\/p>\n
Torquay resident Jodie Oliver has been keeping an eye on the drop-off point for about six months, and said she has been corresponding with the shire without success to improve how the site is run.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s totally being exploited, and it\u2019s unmanageable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just find it a complete disaster; I think they should close it down.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are clear signs that state \u201cdrop off point for holiday home owners and non-permanent residents only\u201d, \u201cno hard rubbish\u201d, \u201cno waste from businesses\u201d and \u201cdo not dump rubbish on the ground\u201d, but this is being openly ignored.<\/p>\n
There was a large pile of rubbish lying on the ground when the Surf Coast Times visited on Monday, with hard rubbish such as an infant\u2019s car seat, a portable toilet and a table clearly visible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve gone through the rubbish and most of it is from businesses. A lot of businesses drop off here, tradies drop off here,\u201d Ms Oliver said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of locals come out here too, I know some of them, and I\u2019ve said \u2018what are you doing?\u2019 and they\u2019ve said \u2018We can\u2019t afford the tip fees\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing I keep hearing is \u2018the council should provide a better service in town\u2019 but I keep saying you\u2019ve got your own bins, you\u2019ve just got to manage your rubbish.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy should some ratepayers do the right thing and some don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
There are CCTV cameras at the drop-off point, which the shire says it has recently upgraded, but Ms Oliver said they were ineffectual as the shire had not issued one fine for illegal dumping in six months.<\/p>\n
In response to questions from the Surf Coast Times, shire general manager of governance and infrastructure Anne Howard said people have \u201cunfortunately been using the facility as a free dumping location for waste of all description, some of which could have been disposed free of charge at the council\u2019s transfer stations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil also provides one hard waste voucher per property each year for free disposal of one cubic metre of hard waste at council facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rubbish a growing problem at Torquay drop-off point A WASTE drop-off point in Messmate Road is becoming Torquay\u2019s dirty little secret, with concerns it is being exploited by lazy residents and businesses. The 24-hour site, which is managed by the Surf Coast Shire, is regularly cleared by Cleanaway but quickly fills up again with rubbish, […]<\/p>\n