Sydenham Road at Delahey is fast becoming a rubbish dump, a strip for dangerous hoon driving and an eyesore for rail commuters, a local resident claims.
Sydenham’s Neil Hunichen asked the council last Tuesday night to install signs warning that the dumping of rubbish is illegal, with heavy penalties if caught.
He also called on the council to move a barrier to further restrict access to the road and have it accessible only by a pin number.
“There’s a significant amount of trade rubbish being dumped there,” Mr Hunichen said.
“Asbestos sheets, animal carcasses and lots of bread and decaying food stuff, after a local milk bar closed.
“It’s also being used as a drag strip. I feel unsafe walking at night in this area due to the road traffic well exceeding the speed limit … rat-bags who do burnouts and do drags at 100 kilometres an hour.
“The council have put in a sign, but it’s right near my house. I think it was put there to simply appease me. You also get trains going past, and they [passengers] have to see all that rubbish; it’s an eyesore.”
Council’s city development director Stuart Menzies said a number of people had been prosecuted for illegally dumping rubbish in the area, and said more signage will be considered.
“There is a small sign in the area, and council will investigate further to determine whether additional or larger signage is required,” he said.
“Council will continue its periodic surveillance of the area with staff and cameras.
“The area around Sydenham Road was disconnected from Taylors Road as part of the grade separation.
“Over the last 18 months, council staff have been working with Victoria Police and VicRoads, as it is a VicRoads’ road, and with VicTrack, as illegal dumping takes place along the railway tracks, to try and manage the situation.
“The road was closed at the current location to allow access to Broadcast Australia for their use of the facilities,” Mr Menzies said
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