Illegal dumping of garden waste damaging park health

Thursday 16 August, 2012

Parks Victoria has identified the dumping of green garden waste as the major source of weed infestation in a number of parks and reserves throughout South Gippsland and around the Bass Coast region.

Recent weed surveys have identified hot spots where adjacent property owners are choosing to dump their green waste in the park rather than taking them to the tip.

Parks Victoria Ranger in Charge Mr Gerard Delaney said it is frustrating that people are being lazy with their garden rubbish, which in most instances has contained weeds.

“Our parks are generally respected in the community, but a small minority continue to dump weeds in the parks which ultimately cause a great deal of damage in a very short timeframe."

Parks in South Gippsland and the Bass Coast area are generally in great condition but the dumping of weeds continues to be a major threat to their floristic diversity, and the chemical control of these weeds is costly.

The areas that have recently been targeted for illegal garden waste dumping include Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, Hall Road and Collis Street in Foster, as well as Acacia Avenue in Walkerville.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Acting Planning and Development Director, Alison Creighton, said sometimes people thought dumping green waste was ‘not that bad’.

“People need to understand it can be as bad as or worse than dumping rubbish,” said Ms Creighton.

“Together with Parks Victoria we are doing a lot of work to reduce the spread of weeds and protect native vegetation and dumping green waste has the potential to undo a lot of this great work.

“Green waste can be taken to all our landfill and transfer stations. They will be taking green waste for no charge in November and December.”