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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
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FRIDAY, January 7, 2022
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Rainy reprieve not over Page 3
Magpies, RUB to resume WDCA season
Pages 16-17
INC. GST
Page 34
Testing site changes following COVID case surge By LEAH ANDERSON-BYRNE
TAKE IT WITH YOU: Chrystal Jones and Nicole Lindsay are among Moyhu residents fed up with excess rubbish disposal in Moyhu Lions Park. This pile of rubbish accumulated around a bin in the park in a matter of hours. PHOTO: Belinda Harrison
Don’t dump on us MOYHU residents are fed up, following at least a month of seeing rubbish regularly pile up in the township’s central park. Moyhu Lions Club president Nicole Lindsay said excess rubbish in Moyhu Lions Park had been common over many years around Christmas, Australia Day and Easter periods, as people took advantage of camping spots in the district, but this year’s dumping had been “extreme in comparison”. “It gets taken away by council, and very soon after, there is more there,” Ms Lindsay said. “I’ve got multiple community
Silage Sil g wrap, p, used d ttoilet il t p paper p lleft ft iin M Moyhu yh p park k started in early December, and was at the worst levels she had seen. “One message with a photo was sent at 1.40pm Monday, and by 2pm, the amount of rubbish dumped had doubled,” she said. She said there appeared to be more campers in the area than usual, with visitors choosing the North East instead of, or because they were restricted from, holidaying further afield during the pandemic. But Ms Lindsay said the rubbish appeared to be from both
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
members messaging me with photos nearly every day of the rubbish in the park. “The community is just fed up, because it’s been an ongoing issue.” Ms Lindsay said dumping usually began at the park (located on Moyhu-Meadow Creek Road) around Christmas, but this year it had
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locals and visitors, with silage wrap among the bags of refuse this week, and previous dumps featuring packaging from a new tent, buckets, and camping rubbish - including an ensuite tent, and used toilet paper. “A parent has reported that used toilet paper was strewn around the playground - we think because animals such as dogs, birds and foxes are getting into the rubbish and spreading it further,” Ms Lindsay said. ■ Continued page 2
NORTHEAST Health Wangaratta (NHW) reopened its COVID-19 drive-thru screening site at the Wangaratta Showgrounds this morning following up to four hour wait times and more than 400 tests some days at the Vincent Road screening site. The change, which will almost double the city’s screening capacity, follows a surge in test demand, on the back on Wangaratta’s active COVID cases rising to 69 - with 14 in the last 24 hours. That is up from from 53 on Wednesday, according to the Victorian COVID-19 LGA data. NHW chief executive officer Robyn Gillis told the Wangaratta Chronicle that the Vincent Road testing site - which is now closed - put through 323 tests on Tuesday and 417 tests on Wednesday. “By opening the showgrounds site we can allow a much larger capacity as it will allow us to run multiple lanes; assuming we have the staff,” she said. “A large number of our staff are isolating so many others have returned from leave or are working additional shifts to make sure we cater to the community. “Because of this we ask the community to remain patient with our staff. ■ Continued page 2
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