Alleged vandalism, threats indefinitely close shared bins in Monaro village

A Monaro village’s bin service has been closed indefinitely amid allegations of repeated vandalism and threatening behaviour.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) manages several Bank of Bins facilities.

Residents can apply for access to their nearest facility, which lets them deposit waste and recycling in its bins.

The Michelago location, at the corner of Ryrie Street and Burra Road, served residents of Michelago and the surrounding area until it was closed as of Wednesday (22 January).

In a media release, an SMRC spokesperson alleged the facility had been repeatedly vandalised “on foot and using vehicles” and that staff had been threatened.

“Council will not reopen the facility until it is satisfied that the safety of service users, staff, and the general public can be guaranteed,” the statement read.

“In addition to the continuing police investigation, a comprehensive structural assessment of the building needs to be undertaken and necessary repairs completed before service can resume.”

Michelago business owner Belinda Hayes told Region she saw the facility as a flexible option for rural residents.

“They don’t need to be in the village for a collection service on Saturday morning,” she said.

“For us, personally, we have our garbage at home on our property. We keep a collection of wheelie bins that my husband will load up once a week to bring them down to the Bank of Bins.”

Under the model, Ms Hayes said SMRC workers would empty the bins twice a week.

However, she claimed there had been several ongoing issues with the Michelago facility, such as noise complaints.

She also alleged there had been repeated incidents of vandalism to the facility.

“Typically the keypad that allows users to get in is glued shut,” she said.

“This time there’s been a bit more damage than that [and it was] a bit more serious and dangerous for the community.

“The Bank of Bins was ram-raided by someone damaging all of the doors and rendering it unsafe for the community to use or for our council service crew to go in there.”

Ms Hayes said the alleged ongoing damage was a “huge frustration” for users.

“It’s an opt-in service for people who don’t live in the village, so they’re not getting your standard garbage collection that everybody else in the village is getting,” she said.

“People are opting in, they’re paying an additional fee on their rates to be able to access the Bank of Bins, and then that’s taken away from them.”

From 1 February, SMRC will hold a weekly service between 8 am and 10 am near the Michelago sportsgrounds, according to the council’s media release.

The council did not say how long the Bank of Bins facility would be closed, but asked people not to access the building.

Ms Hayes said the alleged vandalism was disappointing for residents.

“It’s just such a shame to experience this in the community,” she said.

“We’ve got such a quiet little village and 99 per cent of people are amazing.

“It’s a challenge for the community to navigate, as well as the council, but I think that they did an amazing job [in] responding to it and coming up with solutions for the community.”

SMRC did not respond to questions sent by Region by the given deadline.