Whittlesea residents are taking roadside rubbish into their own hands, running regular community cleanups along Plenty Road.
Since July 2024, local resident Clive Denholm has helped coordinate the effort every two to three weeks between Whittlesea township and Hazel Glen Drive, frustrated by the mounting waste and declining government action.
“What pushed me was seeing our roadsides turn into dumping grounds,” he said.
“I wanted to show that with a little effort, our roads can be clean and welcoming again – and to pressure government to step in.”
But Mr Denholm said he couldn’t do it without the help of local volunteers and businesses.
“We’re working with local businesses and volunteers to make roadside reduction a community-wide effort,” he said.
“The ultimate aim is long-term behaviour change – making it ‘not cool’ to dump rubbish and instead encouraging pride in our environment.”
Each clean-up draws between four and eight volunteers who pitch in and help out.
The effort has received strong support from local businesses, with Whittlesea Hardware, Dalton Building and Garden Supplies and Whittlesea Bin Hire all donating equipment and transport, while Heidelberg Materials has covered some tip fees and discounted rates.
Locals have responded warmly, often stopping to thank volunteers as they work.
Volunteers worked to clean up Wallan and Whittlesea Road as well as maintenance along Plenty Road on Saturday, September 13, with the next clean-up effort planned in the next few weeks to come.
