A new Return and Earn vending machine is causing security concerns for a Berkeley business.
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Environmental services company Southern Habitat is located next to a shopping complex that houses Coles and a number of other stores.
The business shares a property boundary with the centre car park, and a two-metre high fence separates it from the car park.
The Return and Earn reverse vending machine has been placed up against the fence.
Benita Andrews from Southern Habitat is concerned the location of the structure will make it easier for someone to get over their fence.
“We’ve got all these high fences around, all this security and they go and install that,” Ms Andrews said.
“They’ve got the whole car park – it’s huge – and they put it right up against our fence. Why didn’t they put it in the middle?”
Ms Andrews said she was not notified about the construction of the large vending machine.
READ MORE: Who owns the bottles and cans in your bin?
Wollongong City Council confirmed the state government has passed legislation to allow it to install the machines without council approval or the need to notify neighbours.
The vending machine is also located very close to the main thoroughfare through the car park, raising the possibility of someone parking a trailer full of recyclables and blocking access.
Ms Andrews is also concerned about the amount of noise that will be generated by people using the machine during work hours.
This has been a common complaint raised by people who live in close proximity to a Return and Earn machine.
“My office is not very far from it,” she said.
“They said it can only operate between 7am and 10pm. It’s going to be busy. There are going to be lots of people taking bottles there, looking to get some money.”
The property is owned by a group calling itself MN Investments – it is understood that Coles is just a tenant in the complex.
Ms Andrews has contacted the site’s property manager highlighting the security risk and noise issues.
It is understood further work on the vending machine has been postponed due to a possible relocation.
The Mercury contacted the property manager for comment.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
