LITTERERS who illegally dumped more than 300 tyres in Horsham and at Lower Norton face a fine of $208,000.
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There were 304 car and four-wheel-drive tyres, 14 truck tyres and eight tractor tyres dumped outside Horsham Transfer Station and near Fultons Road Extension at Lower Norton on Monday and Tuesday.
The litterers face $208,000 in court penalties, as well as Environment Protection Victoria fines of $1400 for individuals or more than $5800 for a company.
It would have cost $8414 to dispose of the tyres at the transfer station.
Council waste management super-visor Kelvin Howe said ratepayers had to wear the costs of illegal dumping.
“Ratepayers are the ones who will suffer because they have to pay the costs of us collecting and disposing of the tyres,” he said.
“It is bad for the whole city when people dump their tyres or rubbish – it is better for everyone if people do the right thing.
“We might occasionally get a couple of tyres thrown in a creek or whatever but we never normally have this many.
“It is a shame that people go to these lengths to get rid of stuff.”
Mr Howe said council was helping Horsham police with their investigations. “With rubbish we clean up, we take photos before we disturb it and then go through it all,” he said.
“We’ll catch them for sure.”
Horsham Acting Inspector Brendan Broadbent said the litterers faced aggravated littering charges.
“It certainly comes with a high penalty. The costs involved in picking up the tyres will certainly be restituted once the person is brought before the court,” he said.
“We don’t want to see our countryside littered with tyres.
“Because of the number of tyres and the names that are written on them, we will be following a number of inquiries.
“We are reasonably confident that we will find the person responsible for dumping them.”
Acting Inspector Broadbent asked anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.