Shopping trolleys

There is a continuing problem, particularly in the Marsfield area, of shopping trolleys being used to transport items, usually purchases, from shopping areas to residential accommodation and then being abandoned on the footpath. The trolleys are eventually collected by a patrol that roams the streets every few days. Residents are particularly unhappy that trolleys are being used in this manner and left to litter the streets. Sometimes vandals take them for joy rides or dump them down the creek.

The difficulty is that there is little Council can do about this problem. Some years ago we sought the cooperation of supermarkets to introduce a system to encourage trolleys to be kept on the premises, to no avail. They did agree to a hotline number that can be used by anyone to report an abandoned trolley for quick collection.

I suppose it is a change in culture. When Marsfield was developed as a residential area the car was king. Shopping trolleys were meant to be used to transport purchases from the supermarket to the car park for loading into a car. The concept of taking a trolley off the premises was never contemplated. Now we have an increasing number of overseas students occupying share houses, very few of whom drive or have access to a car. Consequently they have taken advantage of the shopping trolley to bring their groceries/books/other goods home. I happened upon the students in the photo who agreed to be photographed.

I have learnt that Woolworths at Marsfield has an application before Council for some minor building modifications. I have asked that the application be brought to a Council meeting for resolution and that Woolworths be notified that we will be seeking a commitment to introducing a coin system for trolleys to discourage abandonment. The students may still take them home, but they will bring them back the next day. Let's see what happens next.