Household rubbish illegally dumped in stadium car park

Household rubbish has been illegally dumped in a car park in North Geelong.

Household rubbish has been dumped in the main car park at Geelong Arena. Picture: Alan Barber

Illegally dumped rubbish was left in the carpark of a council-run basketball stadium in North Geelong for more than a fortnight.

The rubbish, including wooden furniture, children’s toys and a plastic washing basket, was dumped on one side of the Geelong Arena’s main carpark.

The Geelong Advertiser understands the rubbish had been there for more than two weeks before it was removed on Tuesday morning.

The City of Greater Geelong, which operates the property, said it was aware of the issue.

Rubbish that was dumped at the car park was cleared at some point on Tuesday. Picture: Carina Bruce

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said it was not an isolated incident.

“We have seen an increasing trend of illegal waste dumping across Greater Geelong,” he said.

Council has responded to more than 4000 requests to clean up dumped rubbish during the past year, which was a 6 per cent increase on the previous year.

Clean-ups cost rate payers about $800,000 a year.

Geelong residents can access two free hard waste and two free mattress collections each financial year.

Household rubbish has been dumped in the main car park at Geelong Arena. Picture: Alan Barber

It comes after councillors criticised those illegally dumping rubbish out the front of Geelong opp shop and charity bins earlier this month.

The entrance to the Salvation Army’s North Geelong store was piled high with donated clothes and toys and many items were strewn across the nature strip.

Geelong Councillor Anthony Aiken told the Geelong Advertiser the dumping was a “major problem.”

“Dumping at charity shops across Geelong is an ongoing problem,” Mr Aitken said.

“It has peaked when people clean out their houses.”

Earlier this month, council and the Environment Protection Authority investigated the dumping of hundreds of car tyres and bags suspected to contain asbestos at Point Henry.

EPA manager of the southwest region, Carolyn Francis, said the tyres had come from “a commercial source of some type.”

“Point Henry has become known as a bit of a dumping hotspot over time,” she said.

Originally published as Household rubbish illegally dumped in stadium car park