Loading ...Originally written by BRIAN O’BRIEN
THE Macarthur tip is a disgusting, unsightly mess and has become a breeding ground for flies and vermin, according to a near neighbour.
Living only 400 metres away, Murray Schroeder, said the problems – including a huge stench – had become worse with rising temperatures over the past month.
He approached Moyne Shire twice over that period to do something about the huge piles of rubbish at the tip on Myamyn Rd, but he wasn’t happy with the response.
However, Moyne Shire replied that both its machines which are used at the Macarthur tip had been out of action.
“We normally try to cover the waste Monday afternoon but we had a breakdown of equipment. We have organised for another machine to go out there this afternoon (Tuesday) to cover the waste,” the shire’s sustainability and regulatory services manager, Kath Gosden said.
Two breakdowns
“Normally, the work covering waste at Macarthur is done by a traxcavator but it’s been out of action for more than two weeks. There is a loader as back-up but it had problems on Monday, so our two main pieces of equipment were out of action.
“We are well aware of the concerns that Murray has raised. We have responded when he has raised it with us.”
Even when he is in his woolshed 500-600 metres away, Mr Schroeder said he could smell the tip.
“The shire contractors are bringing in truckloads of rubbish as well as the public using the tip.
“The bottom line is that there is no holes for it to go into – and it’s not being covered.
“The rubbish is blowing all around the tip. Then there are the smell, flies and vermin.
Everest of garbage
“At the moment, there is a mountain of garbage there.”
Mr Schroeder said he first complained when the rubbish was left uncovered for a fortnight.
“They came and spread it all out and I said that wasn’t good enough. They turned up the next day with a loader and covered it with soil. But that was about a week ago and yesterday (Monday) more rubbish was brought in and it’s still uncovered.”
He said he could see the tip from his front lawn – and it was an unpleasant sight.
The Macarthur tip is open on Saturdays and Mondays.
Ms Gosden said the waste was normally covered every Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Contractors brought in waste on Mondays and the putrescible waste from a skip was also added to the landfill.
“We have to time it so that our workmen come in with either a traxcavator or loader after the council contractor has been. We don’t have a machine onsite – it goes around a number of sites.”
Ms Gosden said the Macarthur tip was earmarked in a regional waste management plan to close within two years and be replaced with a transfer station.
DISTRESSING . . . piles of uncovered rubbish at the Macarthur tip have distressed a neighbour, Murray Schroeder. The shire claims the situation arose because both the main machine used at Macarthur and a back-up machine had broken down in the past month. It promised the rubbish would be covered Tuesday afternoon. Pic supplied
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