Alan Wilson, who lives across the road from the car park on the corner of Federal and Balfour streets, found out about the dump point in early December when he asked a worker measuring the site what he was doing.

“He said a dump point was being put in early in January, so I spoke to my neighbours and none of them knew it was happening,” he said.

“We were asked for our opinion about where the skate park would be built in town – but not about this.”

Mr Wilson and his neighbours don’t oppose the dump point, but say its location – decided by the town’s community development committee – is not appropriate, due to speeding on Culcairn-Holbrook Road and the car park being important for pool access.

Nigel Preston said he had spoken to more than 30 people in town, who were unaware of the plans.

“I can’t imagine any of the schools know about it,” he said.

“There’s other options – the footy ground, caravan park, or on the Olympic Highway.”

Greater Hume engineering director Greg Blackie said four dump points across the shire were proposed, assisted by funding from a camping and caravan association.

“There’s one for Holbrook’s submarine park, for Walla we’re looking at the entrance to the recreation ground and Jindera’s will be going on Urana Street after we’ve done some work on the skate park,” he said.

“They have to be in places that connect to water and sewerage.

“Culcairn is difficult – the coach terminal near the pub is restricted because of other vehicles parking there, and the Olympic Highway is too narrow.

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“The space near the pool can easily be accessed by large vehicles – they have been parking there for years.”

Balfour Street resident of 40 years Sandra Robertson said the space was not originally intended for 24/7 truck parking.

“Originally it was for families using the pool and for trucks stopping overnight, and now it will be trucks and caravans,” she said.

Councillor Terry Weston met with the group earlier this week and said he would raise the issue with council.

Mr Blackie said the community committees had been pushing for dump points for years, and that the groups were considered representative of each town.

“If we were putting it directly in front of a person’s house, we would notify them, but this (dump point in Culcairn) is on the other side of the road,” he said.

“They are not big issues with smell and noise.”

It’s expected contracts for the dump points will be finalised later this month.