A DEER Park charity store is being fitted with high-definition CCTV cameras to reduce illegal dumping at the site.
The Weekly reported in January that litterbugs were using a vacant block next to the Salvation Army store as an illegal dumping ground, leaving rubbish, furniture, torn mattresses, smashed televisions and bags of odorous household waste.
Salvation Army sustainability manager Donald Munro said the charity spent $10,000 last year on a perimeter fence to stop illegal dumping. With waste removal costs at the site increasing to $60,000 a year, he said the charity would use part of a $500,000 state government anti-littering package to install the seven cameras.
Mr Munro said despite the efforts of the charity and Melton Council, the site was still being exploited by litterbugs.
“The Easter long weekend was particularly bad and staff from the store came back from the break to find the site completely covered with rubbish,” he said. “It has to stop and our next means of stopping this type of behaviour is catching offenders in the act.”
Mr Munro said cameras would be installed by the end of the month.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith said illegal dumping cost Victorian charities $1.8 million last year.
