Streets shame- Michael Porter with one of the dumped televisions. 59678 Picture: Kim Cartmell

By Melissa Meehan
DUMPED rubbish in Pakenham is making the town untidy.
Resident and business owner Michael Porter said he had noticed an increasing number of televisions, microwaves, computers and other general trash dumped around the town and said people should take pride in the town instead of dumping unwanted goods.
“There are a couple of places around the town, there are some big branches on a nature strip in Racecourse Road, microwaves, televisions and a photocopier in Maria Crescent and lots of computers dumped near the aqueduct,” he said.
“I think the branches were put there for hard waste but because they weren’t in bundles they weren’t picked up.”
Not sure of the reason for the recent increase in rubbish around the town, Mr Porter said some residents may have been putting waste on the front lawn in preparation for the council’s next hard waste collection – which isn’t until May.
“It makes the town look messy,” he said.
“People should take responsibility to arrange to have goods taken to the tip or a recycling depot.”
Cardinia Shire’s Compliance Manager Alan Giachin said illegal dumping of hard rubbish is a priority issue for Cardinia Shire Council.
“Dumped rubbish is unsightly and can be spread around by wind and scavengers,” Mr Giachin said.
“It can cause pollution and a loss of council’s time and resources in the warning, collection and disposal process.”
He said once the council determined who dumped the rubbish it had the authority to issue an infringement notice.
The legislation is enforced under Environment Protection Act 1970 Section 45.
The infringement cost for a minor offence is $119, for a more significant offence it is $239.
Major rubbish dumps can be referred to court by the council and the maximum penalty is $5000.
Residents should report dumped rubbish by contacting the council on 1300 787 624 or filling out a Report an Issue form which is available online at www.cardinia.vic .gov.au.