By CASEY NEILL
Lewd behaviour, hooning and rubbish dumping are plaguing the neighbours of Dandenong North’s Police Paddocks.
The residents are fed up with finding men with their trousers down, four-wheel drives tearing up reserves and vacant blocks, and mounds of litter.
They hope a gate touted by Parks Victoria and Greater Dandenong Council will end their fight for peace.
“We’ve been complaining for three or four years. It’s getting worse,” Bernie Lellyett said.
“I’ve seen as many as six four-wheel drives go past here one night.”
His neighbour Eddie – “everyone just knows me as Eddie” – said it was becoming unbearable.
People in 4WDs and quad bikes rip down fences to get their doughnut fix and leave a trail of wood, heavy-duty cable and mud, he said.
“And if you go up there now you’ll see these gentlemen coming out of the bush with a smile on their face,” Eddie said.
“We used to take our granddaughters up there…”
Greater Dandenong councillor John Kelly said the council managed the area up to the bridge and then Parks Victoria took control.
Softball, cricket and soccer clubs use the reserves beyond the bridge, alongside people walking their dogs, flying model planes and practising their golf swing.
Cr Kelly said the council would meet residents’ requests for a footpath later this year and was talking with Parks Victoria about a gate at the bridge, which would still allow people on foot and with a key to access the facilities.
Eddie and Mr Lellyett supported the gate and said Parks Victoria should also erect ‘slow down’ signage to curb speeding.
“When there’s horses you really need to keep the speed well down because you have a horse shied and then we’ll have a couple of kids getting killed or something,” Mr Lellyett said.
However, a sign threatening rubbish dumpers with a $10,000 fine hasn’t helped with that issue.
Mr Lellyett and Eddie have confronted dumpers and told them to pick up their rubbish and move on.
“We’re endangering ourselves doing that,” Eddie said.
Cr Kelly said the council included cash in its latest budget for CCTV cameras at rubbish dumping hot spots, and that he’d put forward the location for consideration.
Greater Dandenong Local Area Commander Inspector Sean Murray said police units were regularly tasked to attend and check vehicles and people in the vicinity.
“There is no reason to be in these reserves after dark,” he said.
“Police have made arrests for drug activity and traffic offending and will continue to patrol the area.”
Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts also said he would task officers from his team to patrol the area.
Parks Victoria area chief ranger Darren Mitchell said the authority had conducted compliance operations and was working with the council on options to prevent future damage, including gates.
“The resources required to repair the damage caused by the illegal off-road activity would have been much better spent making a better park for the community,” he said.
