CONFUSION over who has responsiblity for Marshalls Creek means it has become the forgotten area of Wagga, sprawled with rubbish and overcome with vegetation and waste.
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When asked why a shopping trolley, concrete rubbish blocks and a car body were left to rot in the area between Riverina Waterworks and Copland Street at the creek, Wagga City Council's manager of parks and recreation David Walker said the area was a state asset.
"Non-native vegetation removal and replanting of native plants along waterways, as has been seen in many areas along the Murrumbidgee River over the past years, has been conducted under state funding and direction, from agencies such as Catchment Management Authority (CMA)," he said in a statement.
"Council has previously done works in the section south of the Wagga Beach and into Marshalls Creek under this arrangement. "
But general manager of the Murrumbidgee CMA John Francis said that was wrong.
"I am advised that Marshalls Creek between Copland Street and Hammond Avenue is wholly freehold land owned by council," he said.
"The area from Hammond Avenue to the river, Marshalls Creek is wholly situated within freehold land held by Riverina Water."
The situation has got out of hand for Wagga resident Christine Simpson, who is fed up seeing such a potentially beautiful area used as a makeshift rubbish tip.
"I think it's just like vandalism, when you leave things to get unsightly then people just think this is the place to dump rubbish and do what they like," she said.
"I'd like to see the council organising a clean up; it doesn't seem to be one of the areas targeted on Clean Up Australia Day.
"A bit more happening would be nice to see, for instance the water quality - somebody needs to take it on board because it looks really soupy."
