LAND surrounding the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant is being used as a skid pan, police believe.
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Motorcyclists and motorists have been gaining access to the land in Epsom by cutting fences and damaging gates, Leading Senior Constable Shane Bourke said.
Once inside, he said the offenders were riding and driving around.
“It’s been an ongoing issue,” the leading senior constable said.
Coliban Water strategy and governance general manager Roslyn Wai said there had been a number of incidents of trespassing, rubbish dumping and damage to gates and fences surrounding the plant in the past few years.
However she said there had been a recent increase in ‘this type of activity’.
The latest incident police were notified of occurred last month.
“People illegally entering our plant may not be aware that part of the land is used for treating and drying biosolids,” Ms Wai said.
She described biosolids as the end product of the wastewater treatment process, which is regulated by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.
“Biosolids are used as fertiliser and can contain pathogens,” Ms Wai said.
“As with all fertilisers, good hygiene practices are essential for people coming in contact with them.”
In addition to the health risks, Leading Senior Constable Bourke said the trespassers had fallen foul of the law.
The criminal damage and trespassing comes at a cost to Coliban Water.
Ms Wai said the repairs ranged from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the extent.
In response to similar incidents in June last year, then strategy and governance general manager Andrew Cooney said the costs of the illegal dumping, and repairs to fencing and signage were ultimately passed on to consumers.
Coliban Water had spent more than $7000 replacing fencing and signage around the plant in the six months leading up to his statement.
Mr Cooney also said it disrupted the biosolid process and was a waste of staff time and resources.
Leading Senior Constable Bourke urged anyone with information to call the Bendigo Police Station on 5448 1300 or make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.