Seabrook Reserve, Broadmeadows neighbours angered over rubbish

BROADMEADOWS neighbours are begging businesses on Centre Rd to stop their dangerous waste from overflowing into a popular dog park.

Rubbish has overflowed from a recycling plant into Seabrook Reserve, Broadmeadows.

BROADMEADOWS neighbours are begging businesses on Centre Rd to stop their dangerous waste from overflowing into a popular dog park.

The north east section of Seabrook Reserve, behind Will Will Rook Pioneer Cemetery, is located near five recycling plants and has become a dumping ground for piles of junk and debris.

When the Leader visited the site last Monday, bits of plastic were seen snagged in tree branches and sharp pieces of glass were scattered on the grass.

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Neighbour James Taylor said despite contacting Hume Council on several occasions, “nothing ha(d) ever come of it”.

“It’s been like this for about two years now and we just want some action,” the father-of-two said.

“Some of the rubbish is toxic — there’s glass, mirrors, everything like that smashed up.

“We don’t let the kids around this area of the park because of all the rubbish.”

Mr Taylor said he suspected some of the dumped cladding in the area was lined with asbestos, a material known for increasing the risk of lung cancer.

A Eco1 recycling centre spokesman said the plant was located on Maygar Blvd and therefore did not border the park, however, the company accepted responsibility for cleaning up any rubbish that came into its site.

“A lot of rubbish is illegally dumped along the parkland side, which makes it look pretty messy,” he said.

“The enormous boundary fence has been broken into during the night on a number of occasions.”

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Another spokesman for Eco1 said the company had installed security cameras around the site in an effort to deter or identify perpetrators.

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) metro region manager Dan Hunt said Hume Council was responsible for cleaning up litter in the parkland, but added nearby businesses should manage their own waste if it is overflowing beyond their boundaries.

“There are several possible sources of this debris, including illegal dumpers and litterers,” he said.

“If a business can be identified as the source, they face possible fines of up to $8060.”

Litter fines range from $322 for a small piece of rubbish or unlit cigarette to $645 for a lit cigarette.

Hume Council’s director of sustainable infrastructure services Peter Waite said it was made aware of rubbish overflowing from private property on the far east side of the reserve earlier this week.

“The owner of the property has … agreed to remove the rubbish from the reserve and replace the fence on the boundary to contain the materials on-site within the next 2 to 4 weeks,” he said.

“Seabrook Reserve is much loved by the community and we want all our residents to have clean, welcoming and safe places to enjoy.”

Anyone who witnesses illegal rubbish dumping is urged to contact the EPA’s pollution hotline on 1300 372 842.

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