Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Blog
News and stories from our iconic coast
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee staff were left frustrated after a small truck load of rubbish and debris was illegally dumped on the Beach Road side of Taylor Park last night.
Discarded pieces of concrete, bricks and other building supplies were left in Taylor Park on top of mulch and dirt piles the Great Ocean Road Coast use to improve the vegetation at the popular park area. Read more
Rubbish is being illegally dumped on our beaches and coastal reserves, causing harm to the environment and threatening coastal flora and fauna.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), Outdoor Works Supervisor , Phil Brown, said illegal rubbish dumping was a regular occurrence on the Surf Coast and that sometimes people were unaware they were breaking the law.
“Disposing household waste in the bins around the foreshore areas is illegal.
When people dispose of their rubbish in the public bins the bins become full and overflow which is a serious problem.
“When people dispose of their rubbish in the public bins the bins become full and overflow which is a serious problem,” he said.
Not only is rubbish being dumped in public bins but dangerous materials from construction sites are being dumped by some contractors.
“Contractors have been incorrectly disposing of rubbish including large slabs of concrete at Point Impossible and other quiet areas where they think they won’t get caught,” said Mr. Brown.
Rod Goring, GORCC Coastal Reserves Manager said there were serious health risks associated with the unsafe disposal of rubbish from construction sites.
“The unsafe disposal of asbestos, in particular, poses a serious threat to the health of the community and the environment,” he said.
John Foss from the Surfrider Foundation said the negative impact of rubbish dumping on the coastal environment is huge.
“People often throw large items such as fridges into the Anglesea River and Spring Creek and when it rains the rubbish is washed down the river and onto the beach,” he said.
The Surfrider foundation holds regular beach clean ups where they sometimes come across car and truck tyres dumped on beaches.
Mr. Foss said the last thing people want to find on the beach is rubbish and it was important that people dispose of rubbish in bins or take it home with them.
Our beaches are beautiful places and people should take care to remove their rubbish properly.
“Our beaches are beautiful places and people should take care to remove their rubbish properly,” he said.
If you notice any illegal rubbish dumping or to report any rubbish or litter contact the GORCC office on 5220 5055, or the Surf Coast Shire on 5261 0600. To get involved in the Surfrider Foundation, call 0408 386 812.
This story appeared in a fortnightly column in the Surf Coast Times called ‘Green the Coast’. The column is an opportunity for community members and environmental and volunteer groups to raise awareness about all sorts of issues, news and events relating to the coastal environment.
Have you seen any illegally dumped rubbish on the coast?
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