Vermin, snakes, stench: Neighbours' fury over man's overflowing rubbish pile
A Sydney man's yard is overflowing with rubbish despite repeated fines from council, leaving locals desperate for something to be done.
Neighbours living near Emmanuel's bungalow in a suburban street in Sydney's south told A Current Affair they fear the area will go up in flames if the yard is not cleared.
Some said vermin and snakes drawn by the rubbish infested the area, and the noise of rubbish being delivered and moved was constant.
The neighbours also allege some of the detritus is being stored and sold for markets as a business.
Emmanuel has been accused by neighbours of letting his rubbish pile up too much. A Current Affair
Emmanuel told A Current Affair's Brady Halls he was moving the rubbish - but neighbours say they're tired of hearing that line.
And he denied some of the neighbours' claims.
"There is no smell, you're making up stories," he said.
Georges River Council told A Current Affair they have taken Emmanuel to court three times to force him to clean up his mess, and they're in the process of doing it for a fourth occasion.
Locals alleged the area suffered from vermin and snakes. A Current Affair
Each time, Emmanuel has complied with the ruling, cleaned up his yard, and copped a big fine.
But residents say soon after, it all comes back.
"He's been asked to clean it up, he's got fined, and now he's come back with an absolute and utter vengeance," one neighbour said.
Emmanuel claimed the current mess in his yard was only from the last two weeks.
Emmanuel said he was moving the rubbish. A Current Affair
"And I'm moving it. Which part of moving it do you not understand?" he said.
One of Emmanuel's friends - who doesn't live in the street - told A Current Affair that he was indeed discussing the need to clean up the yard.
The friend said the repeat build-up of trash was part of an "addiction", and that she sympathised with the neighbours.
"I understand how they feel, it's not nice to look at, and the property values, and also health risks," she said.
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