The Australia Day long weekend saw many visitor hotspots inundated with rubbish in public and private bins around Murrindindi Shire.
Murrindindi Shire Council has joined the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria to jointly issue a ‘information flyer’ advising visitors to the Shire of where and how they can legally dispose of rubbish.
The flyers include Council’s Resource Recovery Centre opening hours and ‘small volume’ fees.
They also feature some handy information about requirements on Total Fire Ban days and the ‘DOs’ and ‘DON’Ts’ of disposing of rubbish when visiting Murrindindi Shire.
The flyers will be available to visitors at Council, DELWP and Parks Victoria offices. They will also be handed out by patrolling Rangers on weekends.
Murrindindi Shire Council Infrastructure and Waste Portfolio Councillor, Eric Lording said we had a number of reports from the community after the last couple of public holidays about large amounts of rubbish being dumped in public and even private bins”.
“So we’re pleased to be working with DELWP and Parks Victoria to put some preventative measures in place prior to the Melbourne Cup holiday,” Lording said.
“The goal is to educate visitors about the damage rubbish dumping does and educate them around more responsible rubbish disposal. Hopefully this will reduce the occurrence of rubbish being dumped inappropriately and illegally
“To help campers and visitors dispose of their waste responsibly, Council will also be trialling skip bins in Thornton and Yea for campers to dispose of their waste over the upcoming Melbourne Cup weekend. If successful, this could be extended to other public holiday weekends.
“Our economy relies on our visitors. By working together, DELWP, Parks Victoria, Council and the community can help visitors enjoy their time in Murrindindi Shire while caring for our magnificent parks, forests and waterways,” Lording said.
DELWP Senior Forest and Roading Officer, Andrew Collard said most people do the right thing and adopt the ‘carry in, carry out’ approach to managing their waste when they visit our Shire.
“However, each year – between the different organisations – we do end up spending a huge amount of money, time and effort cleaning up campsites and even rubbish deliberately dumped in the bush. This is really disheartening, and we are keen to do anything we can to educate and change visitors’ behaviours,” Collard said.
Parks Victoria Area Chief Ranger Andrew Sawicki said Parks Victoria is pleased to be working closely with colleagues at Murrindindi Shire Council and DELWP to encourage visitors to enjoy the beautiful local parks and forests but respect them and leave campsites and picnic areas clean,
For more information about waste disposal options in Murrindindi Shire, see www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/waste
