A FORMER Collie resident has complained to Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray about the condition of the Black Diamond Lake.

Sam Hart, who took his daughter and niece to the popular swimming location last Thursday, said he was disgusted with the amount of rubbish at the site.

He said the amount of rubbish had significantly increased since a visit two months ago.

“There is definitely more here,” he said.

“It has never got this bad in the past. Collie once won Tidy Towns, so can you imagine what people out of town are saying now?”

Mr Hart said he had been told by Mr Murray’s office that Black Diamond was owned by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of white people in Collie but has anyone else been kicking up about it? They must like swimming in rubbish. I don’t like that,” he said.

“This rubbish has been here for months.

“More people should kick-up about it to put pressure on the department because it is still their land, not the shire’s land.”

Mr Hart said he has heard mothers are reluctant to allow children to swim at Black Diamond because of the rubbish.

“It is getting to the point where I don’t want my daughter and niece to swim here either,” he said.

“Rubbish is going into the water and it’s disgusting.”

The Department of Mines and Petroleum was contacted but wanted more time to prepare a response to Mr Hart’s complaint.