LOCALS have had enough of the illegal rubbish dumping at a nearby historical landmark and are calling on the Department of Transport and Planning to take action.<\/p>\n
An online petition, which started last month, is calling on the authorities to \u2018Save Djerriwarrh Creek and Bridge, Melton\/Bacchus Marsh\u2019.<\/p>\n
In less than a month, the petition has gathered 342 signatures, with the goal of reaching 500.<\/p>\n
Built in the 1850s, the bridge has become the site of a significant amount of dumping, with Bacchus Marsh resident Marit de Lange sharing her experience and photos of visiting the site regularly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve visited every once in a couple of weeks or months in the past years, not too often because it\u2019s so depressing with all the rubbish and illegal dumping,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many different items are dumped, from normal household rubbish in rubbish bags, to cars, clothing, shoes, furniture, electronic, cardboard boxes and more, even asbestos once.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past few years I have witnessed regular dumping directly at the old bridge, and even from<\/em> the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms de Lange said it was odd to see these items dumped, considering that many can be dropped off for free at transfer stations.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot of psychology behind this behaviour. I remember once reading some academic research that people dump simply because they can,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no consequences, and for some it is just as easy to dump it somewhere as it is to drop it at a transfer station.\u201d<\/p>\n Heritage Victoria has been notified of the dumping at the site and is looking into the dumping issue.<\/p>\n