Warrnambool City Council will not install a skip bin at the breakwater despite tuna fishermen leaving a disgusting mess last weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council chief executive officer Peter Schneider said the responsibility to dispose of rubbish was up to fishermen.
"While other more industrial ports have large skips for fish waste, given the area around Warrnambool's Breakwater is a space shared by walkers, joggers, cyclists, swimmers and sightseers we believe large skips would be an inappropriate addition to the landscape," he said.
"Council encourages users of public facilities to be respectful of the area and the environment. Public place bins are provided for general waste.
"Anyone generating large volumes of waste in a public area is expected to dispose of their waste through an appropriate and lawful means."
Bigger and better bins were called for to cater for tuna fishermen by a Warrnambool environment group after a disgusting mess was left at the breakwater last weekend.
On Tuesday this week Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network chairman Bruce Campbell said the council could have been caught unprepared after coronavirus restrictions were lifted and recreational fishing was relaunched.
That's at the same time the annual tuna run is in full swing and consequently hundreds of boats descended on the south-west - particularly at Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland.
Warrnambool is probably the least used boat ramp because many boat owners avoid the facility due to the sea surge, which can make launching and retrieving boats tricky.
Mr Campbell said there needed to be bins so plastic and organic material could be separated.
"The plastic rubbish is the most significant issue because the last thing anyone wants is for that to go into the marine environment," he said.
"That should be of particular concern for fishers because plastics kill fish and fishers should be on the front foot in relation to that issue.
"We want plastics to be going into landfill not the ocean."
Mr Campbell said there should be bins big enough to cater for large tuna frames - which could then be recycled.
"There needs to be separate bins for organic matter so that it can be recycled, used for compost," he said.
The landcare spokesman said the bin issue tied into the harbour precinct upgrade proposal.
"If this is going to be a fishing destination then there needs to be all the necessary facilities and there's not a lot of space between the pavilion and the breakwater.
"It's not like Portland, where there is a lot more space and separate areas. We don't want people sitting down to have a coffee and take in the views across the bay sitting beside bins full of tuna frames.
"That seems a bit incompatible. You can't promote tourism with skips full of dead fish," he said.
Mr Schneider said that later this year council would build a new $150,000 fish cleaning area as outlined in the Port of Warrnambool Master Plan.
The new facility will have FOGO bins to help cope with fish waste.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.