By Jessica Anstice
A “disgusting” but disturbingly common sight has continued to outrage residents of a Pakenham estate after people continue to carelessly dump rubbish in a creek.
From dirty nappies, plastic bags, cat litter and household items, to bikes, boxes, shopping trolleys, plastic chairs and green waste, Kennedy Creek in Fallingwaters Estate has become a “dumping ground” for some.
For more than three years now, the creek, as well as its popular walking track, has been polluted with litter, angering residents who live nearby.
Two residents were so fed up that they launched an online petition, in a bid to draw Cardinia Shire Council’s attention to take action.
The petition, started by Brijal Parikh and Cathy Mitchell, calls for a “properly funded annual management system’ to fix the environment, as well as an immediate clean up of Kennedy Creek.
Due to the current coronavirus restrictions the petitioners have been limited in obtaining more signatures but to date, 22 people have signed it.
“Kennedy Creek has become a rubbish dump and full of unwanted weeds – it could be a beautiful public asset to be enjoyed by everyone, however, its environment is being changed by neglect and inaction of authorities in our opinion,” Mr Parikh said.
“Residents of Fallingwater Estate believe a well-managed and healthy creek can help drain stormwater, reducing the impacts of flooding and preventing soil erosion.
“If the rubbish builds up continues with growth of unwanted plants in and around the creek, it will eventually reduce water flow; like a blocked-up toilet.
“Also, behind the creek it is becoming a haven for youth to smoke bongs and drink alcohol, leaving residents fearful of the area.”
Like most, all Fallingwaters Estate resident Yasmin Cohen and her family can do during the coronavirus lockdown is go for walks or ride bikes along Kennedy Creek.
“At the moment, down near the Kennedy Road, corner of Algerd Way and Devine Drive, there is a permanent oil slick that has been there for over two weeks,” she explained.
“There are approximately three different duck families that live along this creek also. My children are extremely fond of them.
“One of the main duck families use to reside in this section and have been forced to move further along near Fallingwater Drive, near that look out point, which isn’t much better in the way of rubbish and pollution.”
Ms Cohen said the pollution that is constantly visible along the creek is “disgusting”.
“I am not just talking about general rubbish – baby gates, plastic bags with dog poo, shopping trolleys or even the remainder foam balls left over from that broken bean bag,” she added.
“I feel that weekly I am taking photos and writing rubbish and pollution reports to the shire, via the Snap Send Solve app.
“Unfortunately, not much is being done about it. Our natural wildlife is suffering and the natural beauty of this walk is very quickly deteriorating.”
The litter-strewn area has also left Fallingwater resident Dave Fox at his wits’ end.
Mr Fox, who lives just across the road from the creek, says he is horrified every time he stumbles upon piles of rubbish.
“It makes the area and walking track look very untidy – it’s not something I wish to walk outside in the morning and see,” he said.
“People need to be held responsible for their actions, but a couple of bins, even next to the benches, wouldn’t go astray.”
Resident Lyn Connor lives three houses up from the creek and has also noticed the severe pollution that covers the area.
“When it’s dry, the overgrown shrubbery and a build up of rubbish causes the creek to clogged up,” she said.
“The creek is very polluted – it’s got a lot of rubbish that floats through it.
“I remember walking past and someone emptied their green waste bin and it reeked.”
Resident Danielle Bradley believes the area needs a solution to prevent the pollution before it brings the area down more than it already has.
“It brings the area down – looks like a dumping ground in areas,” Ms Bradley said.
“If it was cleaned up it would be a much nicer area to walk with families, especially with the current climate, when our daily exercise walking around the creek, is our only outing.
“I think the creek is overgrown in areas, it needs to be cleaned up and fallen trees removed. We have personally had our property damaged from rats from the creek, this needs to stop.”
The creek and its banks and vegetation are the responsibility of Melbourne Water, however the nature strip alongside the creek is managed by Cardinia Shire Council.
“When complaints regarding litter or dumped rubbish on council-managed land are received they are inspected and actioned,” the council’s waste management services coordinator Jacqui Kelly said.
“If the report is located within the creek or its banks, the request is forwarded through to Melbourne Water.”
Melbourne Water has been contacted for comment.
Litter and pollution can be reported to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) online at https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/get-involved/report-litter or by calling 1300 372 842 (EPA VIC).
