DISGRACE: Some of the rubbish photographed in the Whipstick forest this week.
HORSE riders say it has become impossible to navigate past the rubbish that is continually being dumped in the Whipstick forest.
Ironbark Riding Centre owner Rebecca Gahan said the tracks her riding group used were being littered with an “astounding” amount of waste.
Mrs Gahan said interstate and international tourists on the groups were increasingly alarmed by the state of the bushland area.
“Unfortunately it’s making Bendigo itself look bad,” she said.
“We take tourists through various parts of the Whipstick on horseback and we’ve had numerous comments saying how disgusting it looks.”
Mrs Gahan said that in the four years she had operated the business, the amount of rubbish had been constantly increasing, so groups had to plot new trails.
“Our horses are really good, but you never know how they’re going to react or whether an increase in rubbish could be a hazard for them,” she said.
“The most disappointing thing is that most of it is TVs and computer monitors.
“Once the glass gets broken, it’s dangerous. Especially with the heat we’ve been having, it could easily spark a fire. It could be disastrous.”
The Lightning Hill area of the forest was the worst area for dumped rubbish, Mrs Gahan said. She said it was time something was done to prevent the growing number of computers and televisions being abandoned.
“The most disappointing thing is that it’s people who probably live nearby and think they get out of paying a tip fee.
“It’s the same people doing it all the time.”
Tip fees at Eaglehawk landfill centre increased last financial year, rising to $10 per computer or television monitor and $1.50 per bag of rubbish.
Illegal rubbish dumping can be reported to Parks Victoria by calling 13 19 63.
