Boxing Day weather impacts Anglesea rubbish collection, Geelong V/Line

The highest fire risk since 2019 will impact post-Christmas rubbish collections on the Surf Coast, while cricket fans can expect a long journey to the ‘G for day one of the Boxing Day test.

Surf Coast Shire Council will shorten operating hours and even close some services due to the extreme fire danger on Boxing Day. Picture: Alan Barber

Surf Coast residents risk getting stuck with mountains of wrapping paper and lunch leftovers if they don’t put their bins out Christmas night.

An extreme fire danger rating on Boxing Day has forced the shire to amend and, in some cases, close services.

It means scheduled kerbside collections in Anglesea, Point Addis, Bellbrae, Freshwater Creek, and Connewarre will commence at 5am and cease at 10am after the towns were identified as high fire risk areas.

Surf Coast’s general manager community life Damian Waight said council would work to eliminate household rubbish, but had to prioritise the safety of employees.

“We understand that people’s bins will be full on Boxing Day,” he said.

“Kerbside collections will start very early in the morning with the aim of making as many collections as possible before 10am.

“Any areas not covered will be caught up as soon as possible … please continue to leave your bins out until they are collected.”

Locals are being encouraged to put their bins out early to make the earlier collection time. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Waight said consideration from locals would be greatly appreciated.

“If you see full bins, please take your rubbish home and help keep our beautiful places neat and tidy,” he said.

Anglesea landfill will operate between 5am to 10am Boxing Day, while the transfer station will open for one hour from 9am.

Winchelsea transfer station, Lorne transfer station, Lorne visitor information centre, Anglesea visitor information centre, and Anglesea re-sale shed will all be shut on December 26.

A Country Fire Association spokesman said Boxing Day loomed as the “most significant day of fire danger that we’ve seen in the state since Black Summer”.

“Any fire that starts will be difficult to control and has the potential to impact communities very, very quickly,” he said.

“The conditions are very serious … don’t travel unless absolutely necessary.”

Cricket fans taking the train to Melbourne have been told to prepare for extended travel times on Boxing Day. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

People planning to catch the train to Melbourne for the cricket are urged to factor in extra travel time after it was announced that an extreme heat timetable was expected.

Speed restrictions on V/Line services are enforced when temperatures exceed 36C.

This will likely extend journey times for a significant part of the day, with the maximum temperature in Geelong forecast to hit 39C.

Meanwhile, from 9pm on Boxing Day until 6am on January 4, three city-bound lanes of the West Gate Bridge will be closed for maintenance works.

Significant delays of up to 30 minutes are expected for those travelling into Melbourne.

Outbound lanes will not be impacted.

Originally published as Boxing Day weather impacts Anglesea rubbish collection, Geelong V/Line