By Tara Murray
Melton council is calling for increased financial support of local councils to manage illegal rubbish dumping, as the problem continues to grow.
The council at its February council meeting agreed to write to Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos calling on the state government to help local councils with the costs.
The council will highlight the significant financial and amenity impact of illegal rubbish dumping.
It will request the state government release funding from the sustainability fund that is collected from the waste levy, for increased financial support of local councils to manage illegal rubbish dumping. •
The council is also calling for the state government to develop an illegal rubbish dumping strategic plan.
Currently Melton council deals with 3,500 tonnes of illegally dumped waste annually at a cost of more than $5 million and diverts resources from other essential council services.
Councillor Phillip Zada, who raised the issue, said he is sick of the illegal rubbish dumping in the area.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “We have these beautiful new estates, we’ve got old estates.
“You drive down the road and you see piles of rubbish as someone has decided it’s a great spot to do it.
“It’s unfortunate, it’s not just in our council. It’s all round Victoria, it’s becoming a more and more bigger problem.
“You shouldn’t have an excuse really.”
Councillor Julie Shannon said every second week she would get complaints about rubbish dumping.
“I’ve had enough, I’m up to my eyeballs.”
The council will also take these to the Municipal Association of Victoria to advocate on all councils to help solve this problem.
The state government is working with the Environment Protection Authority, local government, industry and community to address illegal dumping through its illegal waste disposal program.
The waste levy funds core activities of the key environmental agencies, the EPA, Sustainability Victoria and Recycling Victoria and remaining goes to a sustainability fund.
A government spokesperson said it knows the impact waste has in its communities, which is why it’s strengthening laws for the Environment Protection Authority to crack down on illegal dumping.
