It was the city’s garbage tip for 17 years and ironically, more than two decades after it closed, Anambah Road has again become a city dumping ground.
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Residents have had enough and say their beautiful rural outlook has been sullied by illegal dumpers who can’t afford tip fees or are too lazy to travel to the other side of town to dispose of their rubbish.
Everything from tyres to refrigerators, lounge suites and household rubbish to matresses and shopping trolleys have been strewn along the country road leaving residents and council to clean up the mess.
“But as soon as we clean it up the dumping starts again,” said resident Lyndon Everett. “It’s relentless.”
Residents Fairfax Media spoke to said Maitland City Council has been excellent helping with clean-ups. “But as soon as it is cleaned up you can guarantee there will be more dumping the next weekend,” Mr Everett said.
The news comes the same week council announced strategies to combat illegal dumping will be implemented thanks to a $68,000 grant from the NSW Government.
Another resident, Andrew Glasson, followed a motorist towing a trailer with the tail gate open dumping rubbish over two kilometres. “I got his rego which I passed on to police and council,” Mr Glasson said.
“After the April super storm I took two ute loads of rubbish that washed onto my property, to the tip. This included refrigerators and washing machines.”
“I think people are dumping here because the tip is on the other side of town and it’s too expensive. A lot of the people on this side of town are in rental properties and don’t get the free tip vouchers,” Mr Glasson said.
Mr Glasson said it would be cheaper for Maitland council to provide a dumping station on the western side of the city rather than spending money on crews regularly cleaning up roadsides.
Mr Everett said the dumping problem has escalated. “It’s beyond a joke, sometimes there are beds, matresses and even whole lounge suites on the site of the road. I actually feel sorry for the people who are doing this,” Mr Everett said. “They clearly have no principles, no pride in their own life or for the community or country they live in and probably their own homes,” he said.
Mr Everett and neighbour Brian Dean said there have also been issues with drag racing and burnouts on Anambah Road. “We’ve even had cars burnt out along here,” Mr Dean said.
“About six months ago a bloke who delivers phamplets drove out here and dumped about 20 bundles of brouchures on the side of the road. “It’s a joke. This is a beautiful rural location that is being trashed,” he said.