A CONTRACTOR is expected to move in today and clear rubbish strewn along a white metal road at Compton following a decision by Grant District Council.
The ratepayer-funded clean-up will see rubbish removed along Megaw Road, directly in front of a large scrap metal quarry.
At council’s meeting last week, frustrations boiled over regarding the illegally dumped rubbish – mostly scrap metal items – being left sitting on the side of the road.
Junkyard operator Keith Pearson – who operates the quarry – claimed the general public was responsible for the dumped rubbish.
The clean-up works are expected to cost up to $12,000.
Ahead of today’s clean-up, Mr Pearson sent a letter to council offering to remove rubbish on the corner of Megaw and Marte Siding Road for $5000.
Mr Pearson said he would donate the money to the cash-strapped South East Animal Welfare League.
“The clean-up and removal would be $5000 with an obvious large saving to council and ratepayers,” Mr Pearson said in the letter.
Council acting chief executive officer Graeme Maxwell said yesterday the clean-up works were expected to start today and would take up to two days.
He said Mr Pearson’s quote for the works came after the procurement process was completed and the appointment of a contractor.
“We cannot back pedal that decision and Keith also has a conflict of interest,” Mr Maxwell said.
The council executive also revealed some of the rubbish had already been removed following another inspection of the site by council staff.
Mr Maxwell renewed his call on the community not to “illegally” dump rubbish on roadsides.
At council’s meeting last week, Cr Alan Hill spearheaded the debate regarding the site and described the situation as “disgraceful”.
Council approved the ratepayer-funded clean-up outside the quarry given it could not prove who dumped the rubbish.
During his scathing attack, Cr Hill did not specifically name Mr Pearson as the culprit.
“It is an absolute disgrace what is going on,” Cr Hill said at last week’s meeting.
“This council has been given the runaround. I really feel sorry for staff because they are really being put under pressure.”
He called on council to take “some positive” action.
Responding to last week’s meeting, Mr Pearson said it was a joke council wanted to spend money to clean up scrap metal in front of a “scrap metal yard”.
Conceding he had ongoing legal battles with local government authorities, he vowed never to give up operating and expanding his scrap metal business.
He said a baler was due at the site to crush the items stockpiled in his quarry.
Mr Pearson plans to establish a scrap metal depot in Mount Gambier, which he claims would deter people from dumping items at his Compton site.
