UPDATE: An urgent illegal dumping summit is set to take place in Moorabool on 30 October, with mayors, chief executives, and senior staff from councils across Victoria convening to tackle a growing environmental crisis. This summit comes in the wake of a significant dispute between the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Moorabool Council regarding the clean-up of hazardous waste near Bacchus Marsh.
The council was forced to spend approximately $500,000 to remove between 1,000 and 1,250 dissolved acetylene cylinders discovered in two trailers parked on the nature strip of 210 Lerderderg Park Road, Merrimu. An EPA clean-up notice mandated the removal of this toxic waste by 25 July, but Moorabool sought intervention from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which denied their request for a delay on 16 July.
Mayor Paul Tatchell emphasized the urgency of addressing illegal dumping, stating, “We have decided to host a summit with representatives from other councils to determine a collaborative approach and drive shared solutions for this issue.” He noted that the financial burden of illegal dumping costs councils hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
The summit aims to facilitate an exchange of experiences between councils, with a focus on strategies to combat illegal dumping, particularly from builders and contractors operating in the area. “We’re looking forward to hearing what other councils are experiencing and what measures they are implementing to combat this widespread issue,” Mayor Tatchell added.
Moorabool Council continues to run campaigns targeting illegal dumping, a pressing concern as it impacts both environmental health and local communities. The summit represents a critical opportunity for local governments to unite against this growing challenge.
As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Moorabool to see what collaborative efforts emerge from this pivotal meeting. Stay tuned for updates on solutions developed during the summit that could reshape waste management practices across Victoria.
