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4 August 1924
Health Matters in Mudgee
RUBBISH TIP TROUBLES.
ROUND OF INSPECTION WITH MAYOR MARSH.
Health matters loomed large at last meeting of the Mudgee Council. Aldermen were more sorely troubled over the situation of the rubbish tip than anything else. Ald. Parsons moved a motion to have it taken from the back of Flirtation Hill and made to fill up a creek that was formed in the gulley nearby. There was such a marked difference of opinion on the matter that Ald. Parsons allowed his proposal to stand over for another meeting.
Since then our representative made an inspection of the council's two tips in company with the Mayor. The one at Flirtation Hill is not, in his opinion, badly located but it is an eyesore from the hill, and would have been better placed in a creek in the first place. But its situation was the least important feature. Its condition was far from satisfactory. Little clumps of decaying vegetables such as onions, pumpkins, melons, etc., were left to rot. Some of these, to, were quite sound and should never have been thrown out. Everything of that nature should be properly buried. The Council will have to make it obligatory on those who dump such rubbish to bury it. It cannot be left on the surface to create a nuisance and possibly breed disease.
The trouble in regard to removing the tip is the cos. Before aldermen commit themselves to this course they will need to know that the expense will be small, and this does not appear likely. In that case the creation of an additional tip can scarcely be justified. Apart from the vegetable matter, which can be buried, all that can be said against it is that it is unsightly.
The Council has another tip, and it might be well if it concentrated on this. It lies at the back of the police station, and is being made to fill up a huge wash out in an old creek. It will take years to fill in but in filling it the Council is doing a good work. Ald. Saunders had this tip created. His idea was to get rid of the mosquito pest by filling in the pools that bred then, and the Mayor says the plan has produced results already. But it must be kept free of defilement. No dead dogs or diseased matter of any kind such as Ald. Colless saw at the other place, must be placed there, or any place else, so far as that goes, except under the ground1
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