Doug Nicholson is trying to put an end to the “dumping ground” on Sydenham Rd. 75849 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Laura Wakely
CONDOMS, syringes, burnt-out cars and electrical appliances are just some of the items that are being dumped in Sydenham Rd on a regular basis.
The road has also become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour including hooning and sexual encounters since Sydenham Rd was closed to traffic at Taylors Rd for the construction of a grade separation in 2007.
Doug Nicholson is one of many residents who exercises along Sydenham Rd.
But he said the route was becoming more and more dangerous, with items like used syringes littering the road.
“It’s unsafe for me, male and female walkers, joggers and bike riders alike,” Mr Nicholson said.
“You don’t know what you’re going to walk into … we might as well call it a rubbish dump.”
Mr Nicholson said the problems had not existed when the road was open to traffic.
“I’m just totally disgusted with the conditions,” he said.
“It’s an insult to
local residents.”
Mr Nicholson has called on Brimbank Council to set up cameras on the road and for the road to be re-opened.
Council’s General Manager of Infrastructure and Environment Paul Younis said council had received “a few inquiries” about Sydenham Rd being reconnected.
He said council spent around $200 a week cleaning up the road, but said this figure took into account that rubbish might not be left every week and the quantity of rubbish might vary, which would affect the cost of removal.
VicRoads Metro North West Acting Regional Director Sebastian Motta said there had been a proposal to reconnect Sydenham Rd but that VicRoads was “unable to secure the necessary land” from Broadcast Australia, who own a large parcel of land at 250 Taylors Rd.
“Any future connection would be dependent on their (Broadcast Australia’s) development plans for the area,” Mr Motta said.
A spokesperson for Broadcast Australia told Star it had been trying to redevelop the southern end of the Sydenham Rd property since 2004, but that it was subject to a “complex regulatory regime”.
The spokesperson said a public environment report examining the “issues associated with the redevelopment”, which sources told Star was due to the existence of the endangered native species the Golden Sun Month on the site, was exhibited and that Broadcast Australia was awaiting consent from state and federal governments.
When approved, the spokesperson said Broadcast Australia would work towards the reconnection of Sydenham Rd, but no date has been set.
In the meantime, Mr Younis said council would not be installing security cameras on land that he said was a Federal Government responsibility.
Mr Younis said council would notify Victoria Police and would consider closing the road to vehicles until the Broadcast Australia land was redeveloped.
