Parkland, not wasteland: Campaign urges Bendigo to unite against illegal dumping
Friday 8 November, 2024
Illegally dumped household waste is turning Bendigo’s once-pristine parks into unsightly wastelands.
Some residents are unloading trailer-loads of trash into their neighbouring parks at an alarming scale, including items such as whitegoods, mattresses, furniture, clothing, green waste and everyday rubbish.
Bendigo is sadly on top of the list of illegal rubbish dumping locations in regional Victoria. Around 1400 dumping incidents are currently impacting local parks on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, with more than half consisting of household waste. This includes more than 541 dumping incidents recorded since July 1 – a significant increase on the last financial year.
To combat this surge in environmental crime, Parks Victoria is partnering with Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), the City of Greater Bendigo and Conservation Regulator on a new campaign: #ParklandNotWasteland.
Authorities are urging residents to take advantage of the legal, affordable, and safe waste disposal options available in the area. Items commonly found dumped in parks can be put in household bins for kerbside collection or disposed of for free at the Eaglehawk Landfill and Recycle Shop, as well as nearby transfer stations in Strathfieldsaye, Heathcote and Goornong.
Accepted items include soft plastics, clean clothing and textiles, household paint, electronic waste, clean and useable furniture, whitegoods, kitchen appliances, sporting and exercise equipment, plumbing items, all metals (including fencing and wiring), cardboard, polystyrene and domestic green waste.
A new surveillance operation – Operation Cleantree - is being launched across impacted parks, with Authorised Officers installing cameras at known hot spots. Authorities are calling on the community to report dumping locations by using the SnapSendSolve app.
Offenders caught illegally dumping will be met with zero-tolerance and hefty fines will be issued under the Environment Protection Act 2017. Residents may notice increased signage and fencing in parks where investigations are underway.
Community reporting makes a difference: over the past three years, compliance investigations by Parks Victoria have resulted in more than $13,000 in fines issued to offenders.
Together, we can protect Bendigo's parks and ensure they remain beautiful for all to enjoy.
Quotes attributable to Mathew Sobey, Ranger Team Leader, Parks Victoria:
“Every piece of rubbish dumped in local parks ultimately shifts the financial burden associated with clean-up onto responsible residents, undermining community and government efforts to beautify Bendigo’s natural landscapes. Illegal dumping can harm human health, pollute the environment, reduce amenity and is costly for Parks Victoria to manage.
Many of the household items we find dumped in parks can be disposed of for free. With one landfill and three transfer stations in the area, there are legal and safe disposal options available. Remember, your local parkland is not a wasteland. If you can drive to the bush, you can drive to your local transfer station.”
Quotes attributable to Paul Ratajczyk, Regional Manager North West, EPA:
“Bendigo is a great city and we are fortunate to be surrounded by parkland. It’s extremely disappointing that this natural asset is being badly impacted by the dumping of waste by some people. There are many options in Bendigo to dispose of your household waste at no or little cost. There is no excuse for dumping waste in our parks. It’s parkland not wasteland. People found to be dumping will face hefty fines.”
Quotes attributable to Bridgette McDougall, Acting Manager Resource Recovery and Education, City of Greater Bendigo
“There is never a good excuse to dump rubbish in our bushland areas as most of the items being dumped can be disposed either for free or very low cost at the City’s local transfer stations or the Eaglehawk Landfill Recycle Shop. There is also information on the City’s website at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/residents/general-waste-recycling-and-organics about what you can dispose of for free.”
Quotes attributable to Glenn Smith, Regulatory Program Manager, Conservation Regulator
“Illegally dumped rubbish in Bendigo’s parks puts at risk the health of our community, environment, and native wildlife. Our parks are not a rubbish tip, and anyone caught treating them like one will be penalised.”
A waste dump in Royal George Historic Reserve is just one example of how illegal waste dumping is ruining parklands in and around Bendigo. Credit: Parks Victoria