Resident complains to

By Jim Mynard
BUNYIP’S Don McLean says the way Cardinia Shire Council has introduced its new user pay green bin service is wrong.
He said it came under the definition of unsolicited services and he has complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about the matter.
Mr McLean said the council dumped bins at properties after a notice that said: “If no order form is received for your property, you will be provided with a green bin and charged for the service”.
He said ratepayers should be offered the opportunity to “opt in” and not to “opt out” of the service.
“It is hard to believe that the council would authorise the issue of such a notice.
“I don’t want the service and I presume that many others will not want it, particularly those in rural low density residential areas.”
He said the notice advised residents that the service would come and gave a choice of ticking yes or no with a deadline for responses on Tuesday 28 November last year.
“One issue I have with this is that bins have been left outside the properties of nonresident owners who have not seen the offer to refuse and they will be charged for a service they don’t know about.”
Bunyip Ward councillor Bill Pearson said in a letter to Mr McLean that the new green bin service was optional as it had always been.
“Unlike our neighbouring councils it is not a compulsory service. You do not have to receive a service if you do not wish to.”
He said it would have been cheaper for the council to make the service compulsory, but the council chose not to.
The Gazette reported in March last year that most Cardinia residents would support the new system.
This was based on a random poll of ratepayers that showed 60 per cent of people across the shire and 71 per cent in residential areas supported the service.
Cardinia manager of governance and communication Doug Evans said the council was happy that most people wanted the service but they could opt out at any time by writing to the council or ringing customer service on 1300 787 624.
Mr Evans said the council wanted to offer an optional service and that11,000 bins were distributed.