The state government is ramping up efforts to tackle illegal dumping in Melbourne’s north through a $21.5 million funding boost aimed at cleaning up Victoria’s parks and reserves and holding dumpers to account.
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced the package on October 11 in a bid to help strengthen Victoria’s Illegal Dumping Taskforce and help councils and land managers to manage the rising costs of clean-ups.
Places like Mernda, Donnybrook, Craigieburn and Kalkallo have become the centres for the statewide issue, with illegally dumped rubbish and toxic waste is increasingly being dumped along roadsides and in local bushland.
Under the new package, funding will go towards easing the clean-up burden for councils and land managers, covering up to half the costs in cases where offenders can’t be identified or cost recovery isn’t feasible.
Further funding will go towards expanding surveillance, enforcement and clean-up activities led by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in partnership with the Conservation Regulator.
The taskforce will boost monitoring and intelligence gathering, review fines and cost recovery measures, and name and shame offenders caught breaking the law.
Dumping and littering on public land currently carries penalties of up to $3.95 million for businesses and $800,000 or five years’ imprisonment for individuals.
Mr Dimopoulos said the funding would help keep Victoria’s parks and suburbs “clean and healthy” while cracking down on polluters.
“There’s no excuse for illegal dumping and anyone who thinks they can get away with it should think again,” he said.
Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage said the investment would mean “faster clean-ups, stronger enforcement and better support” for councils and land managers.
“People in our community have been working hard to keep our beautiful area clean and we’re not going to let illegal rubbish dumpers spoil it for everyone else.”
Kalkallo MP Ros Spence said illegal dumping “infuriates local residents” and that the new funding would ensure “dumpers are held responsible and the mess cleaned up quickly.”
Illegal dumping can be reported to the EPA on 1300 372 842.
