By JESSE GRAHAM
POTENTIALLY harmful chemicals from roadsides may have been collected and dumped at the entrance to Healesville by VicRoads, according to a Healesville resident.
Healesville’s Garry Christie has raised concerns about the appearance of large masses of leaf litter and dirt beside the bridge at the entrance to Healesville, about one kilometre east of Maxwell’s Road.
In a post on his watchdog Facebook page, Healesville Matters, Mr Christie pointed the finger for the alleged dumping at VicRoads and speculated about the chemical make-up of the dumped materials.
A former Shire of Healesville employee, Mr Christie said that, after heavy rains, oils and chemicals on roads ended up in roadsides and in drains, such as those around Healesville.
“I know that the sludgy material that’s cleaned out from drains, is often stagnant materials and build-up – the same as the wash-off from road surfaces,” he said.
“It gets all the brake calliper grindings that build up over time and becomes highly toxic – armed with that type of knowledge, it would be extremely hard to believe that the material that has been dumped there isn’t contaminated.”
Visiting the site of the dumping with Mr Christie, a number of rubbish items were found among the leaf litter, including a single scissor blade – Mr Christie said he had found syringes there in previous days.
The area where the materials were dumped backs onto the Yarra Flats underneath the bridge, where cattle and other animals are often seen – there are also bodies of water nearby.
Mr Christie said that when Yarra Ranges Council undertook street sweeping, they had to dispose of the materials at disposal sites, such as tips, and questioned why the VicRoads materials were not taken there.
VicRoads Regional Director for Metro South East, Aidan McGann, said the organisation had been responsible for the materials, which were put near the bridge to fill a depression in the land.
“To fill this, material from drain cleaning and some sweeping has been used,” he said.
“In coming weeks, the material will be levelled out which will allow it to grass over and improve the appearance.”
The land involved in the alleged dumping is a VicRoads road reserve.
The Mail asked VicRoads if the material at the site had been tested to see if it contained harmful chemicals.
“We are undergoing testing on the site with our environmental team and will proceed appropriately,” Mr McGann said.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Varmalis, said the council had made a customer request to VicRoads about the dumping.
“Council has also spoken to a VicRoads officer about the matter,” he said.
Mr Varmalis confirmed that council street sweepers transported gathered material “to authorised disposal sites”.
He said that any residents aware of illegally dumped rubbish, or who saw anyone illegally dumping rubbish could contact council on 1300 368 333 or at yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
