THREE things get on Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk’s goat. Abandoned trolleys, litter and graffiti rank right up there as a poor reflection on civic pride - another one of his bugbears.
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Right now it’s the trolleys attracting special attention.
Mayor Geoff Kettle has arranged a meeting with the major supermarkets, Target and K-mart following an upsurge in their abandonment.
He told the most recent council meeting that police suggested the meeting after noticing their proliferation behind their Sloane St station.
A large number had also been impounded by Council. For Cr Kettle, it’s a case of groundhog day.
“I remember having this same conversation (with police and the supermarkets) two and a half years ago so it seems to go in cycles,” he told the meeting.
Cr Kirk said the supermarkets had given repeated assurances following meetings in 2013 and 2015.
“Nothing has changed,” he said.
“They told us about their regime and in theory it sounds fine. In practice, it’s not working.
“Like anything, if it’s not constantly monitored and followed up, nothing happens.”
On his trip to Tuesday’s meeting Cr Kirk noticed 16 trolleys on Auburn St between Clifford and Goldsmith St. Another four were laying at a taxi rank.
The Post has also noticed trolleys left for more than four months in close proximity to the CBD.
The Deputy Mayor said their abandonment was unsightly at a time when Council was trying to instil civic pride.
“In fact it (pride in our city) is now in our mission statement,” he said.
“People do have a great deal of civic pride but it’s in these areas - litter, trolleys and graffiti - where the message is not getting through.
There just seems to be a section of the community that is lazy and it’s not just Goulburn, it’s everywhere.
“...There are some who are selfcentred and some who think more broadly.”
Cr Kirk said police were also concerned because “hoons” were using the trolleys late at night, sometimes as “projectiles” to break shop windows, and as playthings. He speculated a coin-operated trolley system or a community dob-in system might be needed.
Cr Kettle said Council would revisit the coin return regime and stiffer penalties in the meeting with retail chains and police in coming weeks.
He told councillors that with trolleys worth $115 and council’s impoundment fee set at $150, supermarkets were more inclined to buy new ones rather than pay the penalty.
Meantime, Council’s vandalism bill from February 1 to April 30 this year, including materials and labour, totalled $17,595.
Most of this - $11, 510 - was spent removing graffiti from numerous bus shelters and toilet blocks in Goulburn and a small proportion in the district.
Some $400 was spent removing hair dye from the Belmore Park change rooms and $1200 on repairing broken toilet seats in Goulburn and Marulan parks.
So far this year, the council has coughed up $54,465 on vandalism costs, with an average of $4,539 per month.