Petition launched after public cleanliness of northern beaches slammed

Overflowing rubbish bins, putrid public toilets and dirty pools are damaging the northern beaches’ reputation — so much so that hundreds have signed a petition calling on the council to take action to restore the area’s pride.

Charity bins overflowing outside St Matthews Church in Manly earlier this week.

• Labor fails to explain how it will improve northern beaches traffic
• Student’s public pleas to identify his attacker

Overflowing rubbish bins, putrid public toilets and dirty pools are damaging the northern beaches’ reputation.

That is the view of councillor Rory Amon and the hundreds of others who have signed his petition.

The Northern Beaches councillor launched a petition on Sunday calling on the council to take action to restore the area’s pride.

Overflowing bins on the northern beaches.

Within 24 hours it has attracted more than 600 signatures.

“On the back of the mayor’s $4 million rate rise, residents expect $4 million better services,” Cr Amon said. “We’re not getting that.

“The bins are overflowing, the toilets are dirty and the pools are poorly maintained.

“It was the same last summer. It’s not as if they weren’t warned. There are always going to be lots of people visiting at this time of year. We need to send a clear message that this is not good enough.”

Cr Amon posted pictures of overflowing bins on his Facebook account and residents responded by posting images of their own.

Resident says discarded bikes are becoming an eyesore across Manly. Picture Warwick Edman

“The standard of cleaning everywhere has declined considerably,” Catherine Smith posted. “It’s a shame to see our beautiful beaches spoilt,” Cathy Hall added.

Manly resident Warwick Edman also contacted the Manly Daily last week to bemoan the state of the area.

“Is Manly an international destination? No, it is an embarrassment,” he said.

“Currently Manly is shabby, dirty, smelly and is being drowned in discarded bikes, locked to trees and poles.”

He said the bikes are not only an eyesore but a potential trip hazard.

Northern Beaches Council said cleaning is increased during the summer season with bins emptied in busy areas twice daily while toilets are cleaned four to five times a week. Rockpools are cleaned every week, compared to fortnightly in the winter.

Concerns have also been raised about the state of overflowing charity bins, particularly those outside St Matthews Church on the Corso.

Rubbish overflowing recently on the northern beaches.

Anglicare has taken to putting signs on the bins warning that only good quality clothing, shoes, bags, toys and accessories are wanted. “Anything outside the bins — this is illegal,” the note adds. The sign also warns the bins are under CCTV surveillance.

“This is one of our busiest times and we appreciate the good will and generosity of people who donate,” Julie McAuley, Anglicare shops operations manager, said.

Manly Beach is one of the most iconic in Australia.

“If people are keen to contribute to the work we do, we would like to encourage the community not to waste their donation by dumping goods outside the bins. Please check to see the bins are full and come back again if they are as unprotected donations are likely to be damaged or stolen.”

Cr Amon’s petition calls on the council to increase rubbish collections, increase the frequency of cleaning of toilets and rock pools and review service contracts so there is a requirement for increased services during the busy summer months.

“And if our providers aren’t performing, sack them,” he said.

Longtime Manly resident Cr Candy Bingham said while the toilets continue to be a problem the area is the cleanest it has been in years.

“I think they are doing an extraordinary job,” she said of the council cleaners. “You see them emptying the bins sometimes four time a day.

“There are a lot of people in Manly at this time of year and really there isn’t much litter.”

Northern Beaches chief executive Ray Brownlee said $7.5 million is spent each year to keep the toilet blocks, public litter bins and rock pools maintained.

“We have increased cleaning over the holiday period to cope with the higher demand on council facilities given the popularity of the northern beaches,” he said.

“We also have significant service improvements planned, with a new public place litter service planned to commence on July 1 and a tender underway for new cleaning contractors.

“At peak times unfortunately there can be exceptional circumstances where despite the extra services our facilities come under pressure. Council responds with our rapid response teams to assess and clean up any problem areas as an urgent priority.”

He said people can contact the council if they notice an issue. Call 1300 434 434 or visit help.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.

Find out more about the petition here.