By Ruza Zivkusic
MELBOURNEWater says Brimbank City Council will be responsible for any litter trap attached to a Keilor Park Drive stormwater pipe.
The water company approved installation of the pipe but considered it a council asset.
Keilor residents expressed their concerns to Star in a recent article and questioned why a litter trap could not be put into place.
They were sick and tired of seeing rubbish flushing into the river after rain.
Melbourne Water media relations manager Ben Pratt said the company recently inspected the site with Brimbank City Council and the owner of the land, Translink Business Park.
He said Melbourne Water would “keep an eye on erosion”.
“I would suggest the installation of a litter trap on the stormwater pipe would be one for council to consider.”
“I don’t know whether we can add anything there, other than the general message to people to remember that litter gets washed into the water system and right into our rivers and creeks,” Mr Pratt said.
Andrew Gray, Brimbank City Council manager for planning, said the council would maintain the pipe.
“It was agreed that rubbish entering the river via the pipe would be monitored by Melbourne Water and council during the building of the industrial estate. If, after construction, rubbish was still an issue then the provision of litter traps would be investigated,” Mr Gray said.
Councillor Miles Dymott said he believed the council should do more to control the rubbish flowing into the river.
“Council should be pushing and taking a bit more responsibility, regardless of whether the council should spend the money,” Cr Dymott said.
Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association president Susan Jennison, who initially raised people’s concerns, said she received a letter from the council saying they were willing to meet with the residents and discuss the matter.
