Will Bleeker, owner of Robertson Pie Shop, is familiar with a bit of litter and anti-social behaviour.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He owns a kilometre of land between the pie shop and the railway bridge to the east, and has seen all kinds of behaviour on the Illawarra Highway, including circle work in the dead of night outside the shop.
But what he found on his property on Monday morning has left him shocked.
"It's incredible," he said of the several mounds of junk he discovered on the edge of his land near the railway bridge.
"There's automotive parts, old bits of timber and furniture, a full engine and gear box, tiles, building materials, everything."
He estimated it as a truckload of junk, some of which he sifted through to see if he could work out who the culprit might be.
Then he rang Wingecarribee Shire Council, who told him it wasn't their responsibility. So he called the police, and they recommended the Environmental Protection Authority, who said they would process the complaint through the council.
"In the end, we might have to pay for the removal ourselves," said Mr Bleeker.
"The EPA said it's very hard to prove who did it."
Wingecarribee Shire Council's regional illegal dumping officer met with Mr Bleeker onsite yesterday.
"Sadly the waste has been dumped onto private land which limits council's involvement (we're unable to remove it)," said a council spokesperson.
"The ranger did advise that they've been able to secure some evidence which they hope will provide a lead to the offender."
Mr Bleeker is now waiting to see outcome of council's investigation.
While the council's Resource Recovery Centre in Moss Vale is temporarily closed to the general public due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is open to essential service operators, including tradespeople.
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.