Syringes scattered at Lillydale Lake has Yarra Ranges Facebook community outraged

MORE than 30 syringes found scattered at a popular Lilydale park play area has met with outrage on social media.

Good Samaritans picked up dumped syringes at Lillydale Lake.

MORE than 30 syringes were found scattered at a popular Lilydale park.

A group of good Samaritans came to the rescue and picked up the dangerous objects from the grassed area, where many people play games and picnic, at Lillydale Lake on March 28.

Yarra Valley Noticeboard Facebook group member Matt posted an image of his mate picking up the syringes.

“Don’t care what your reason is, why you have them or what you use them for, dumping 30- odd needles including used ones around Lillydale lake is not on,” he said.

“Could have been a kid or someone’s dogs that got to them first.”

His post met with more than 1500 reactions and hundreds of outraged members leaving comments.

Leah Lanigan thanked Matt for his work.

“The sad fact is, it is probably kids. Is Lillydale Lake patrolled at night or does it have cameras? Sad, now they will have to up security using more of our rates,” Ms Lanigan said.

Brandon Pytellek said he would no longer visit the area.

“As a result, I think I’ll have to stay away from the lake, if this is a now common occurrence, it seems the lake is undergoing negative change at the moment,” Ms Pytellek said.

“It’s just not worth it.”

Rod Beckwith said: “Thx bud (sic) for cleaning up I walk there with the kiddos all the time. Should be more people like you.”

Yarra Ranges environment and engineering director Mark Varmalis said the council had received reports of syringes dumped at the lake overnight between March 27 and 28.

“This is a very unusual occurrence at the lake, as syringe disposal bins are located in each toilet,” Mr Varmalis said.

“The syringes have since been removed from the area.”

He said while there was no CCTV cameras based at the lake the council had a maintenance crew, which monitored activity at the park including rubbish dumping.

“In response to resident inquiries about the syringes, we have lodged a request for an investigation into syringe disposal bins at the lake,” Mr Varmalis said.