Tyler Redway
A MOUNT Gambier business owner recently expressed her frustration about the negligent dumping of rubbish behind the Commercial Street complex and added it was time for change.
During the most recent Neighbourhood Watch meeting, members of the group discussed the possibility of installing security cameras in areas which had seen the spread of filth and had previously gone overlooked.
Aussie Disposals manager Tanya Knight said the current conditions of the street behind her shop where the business’s bins are were “absolutely appalling”.
“Probably the last six months we have noticed it happening but in the last three months it’s been really bad,” Ms Knight said.
“We have had microwaves, computer monitors and kettles dumped across the road from where we put our rubbish bins.
“We have had stuff put in our paper recycling bin so of course that contaminates everything in there.”
She said the amount of cleanup could be daily depending on the amount of people out on the street at the time.
“It’s worse when bin day approaches because everyone’s bins are already full,” she said.
“We never used to lock our bins and now you will see out the back, businesses are locking their bins just to try and stop people from dumping stuff.”
Ms Knight said the most common form of dumping was household rubbish such as food scraps, packaging and plastics on the side of the road next to the bins.
“When we are talking about waste, everytime it is dumped then that responsibility is passed onto another person and we have to get rid of them,” she said.
“It’s money we have to pay to get rid of someone else’s rubbish.”
She said the CCTV cameras would be an excellent deterrent to anyone who considered dumping household rubbish next to the bins of the complex’s businesses.
“If you have some cameras there and we come out and see a heap of junk out there, we can review those cameras and then people can be held responsible for that,” she said.
Ms Knight said it was not a good look for rubbish to be sitting in a main part of the Ripley Arcade walkway, as it was a popular place for people to cut through the car park into Commercial Street.
“It may not affect my business as much, but it does ultimately affect us all because then it gives the town a bad name that we’re just filthy and we don’t want to be,” she said.
She also added it would be useful to install more CCTV cameras in the main street itself to try and reduce the amount of shoplifters in the city.
“Even with CCTV in the main street, I believe we need to get some more out front as well,” Ms Knight said.
“There is nothing along here and it’s really frustrating when you get a shoplifter because once they’re out of your shop, then you’ve lost them.
“At least with the footage, then it can give the police another point of reference.”
Ms Knight said the Mount Gambier City Council was already aware of this issue and added she hoped to push for a solution after the upcoming council elections.
“When the council comes back, we should put some pressure on them, maybe to reinstate where people put their waste such as beds and microwaves,” she said.
“They would probably only have to do one a year, two would be good, but one would allow every household in Mount Gambier to get rid of that junk.”
Ms Knight said she also felt sorry for garbage collectors and the way rubbish was presented in the area.
“I feel sorry for the garbage people who come and pick up the bins that are chockers and there is just rubbish everywhere, she said.
“It’s not acceptable for them to get out of their truck to pick up the mountains of filth from people.”
Ms Knight, as well as a variety of other businesses on Commercial Street, hoped to discuss the matter with the Mount Gambier City Council once the current caretaker mode has passed.
