By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A large pile of rubbish on Wellington Road near Ryans Road in Belgrave South has become a growing safety concern for local residents.
The pile, which started as a small heap of what appeared to be demolition waste, has nearly doubled in size over recent months, prompting fears of accidents.
Belgrave South resident, Ronnie Walker first reported the rubbish to VicRoads, now the Department of Transport and Planning (DOTP), in mid-November last year.
However, he said the issue remains unresolved, with follow-up actions failing to address the mounting problem.
“I first raised it through their complaints website back in November, and they promised to respond within seven days. But I’ve heard nothing back,” Mr Walker said.
“The pile of junk has only gotten worse, and now it’s spilling onto the roadside, which is extremely dangerous.”
According to Mr Walker, the rubbish pile has grown substantially since he first noticed it, with items like couches, cupboards, and construction waste spilling out onto a busy 90 km/h stretch of road.
Over the Christmas period, the situation worsened, and more illegal dumping followed, including car parts and even tyres.
“The rubbish is right on the edge of the road and it’s on a bend. It’s a massive distraction for drivers, and at night, it’s completely unlit, making it even more hazardous,” he said.
“The worst-case scenario is that someone crashes into it, causing a serious accident.”
Mr Walker also expressed frustration with the lack of response from local authorities.
Despite repeated attempts to follow up with VicRoads, he claims no action has been taken to clear the rubbish, and he has not received any communication about the status of his complaint.
“It’s not just the responsibility of VicRoads. My local council and my state representative should be advocating for this issue to be fixed, but they’ve all dropped the ball,” he said.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Planning confirmed they are aware of the issue and have committed to removing the pile in the coming days.
“We urge everyone to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and be mindful of the impacts roadside dumping has on the environment,” the spokesperson said.
“Our crews will attend the site over the coming days to remove the rubbish pile.”
Member for Monbulk, Daniela De Martino, said that her office has forwarded the issue to the Department of Transport and Planning’s (DOTP) maintenance team, who have confirmed the cleanup will take place in the coming days.
“Illegal dumping is not only appalling, but it damages the environment, can be dangerous to our health and costs taxpayers money to clean it up. When waste is dumped near roads, it can also become a hazard. The hard waste left in piles along Wellington Road is terrible to see,” Ms De Martino said.
“I strongly urge anyone who spots hard waste dumped along roadsides to report it immediately to VicRoads. If you witness illegal dumping, please report it to the Environment Protection Authority through their website or by calling.”
“We live in a beautiful part of the world and we want to keep it that way.”
Despite this assurance, Walker remains sceptical about the speed at which the issue will be addressed.
“It’s been months now, and this could have been sorted out much sooner. I just want to see it cleaned up for the safety of everyone.”
Illegal dumping remains an ongoing issue for both the Department of Transport and local councils, with the community urged to report such incidents to EPA Victoria at 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or to VicRoads by calling 13 11 70.
