$8.5m push to clean up illegal dumping

THE Victorian government has opened applications for a new $8.5 million illegal dumping clean-up rebate program, aimed at helping councils and public land managers cover the cost of removing illegally dumped waste, including across the Geelong region.

The rebate program will provide financial assistance to organisations responsible for maintaining public land, including local councils, Crown land Committees of Management, Parks Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning. It will cover up to 50 per cent of clean-up costs in cases where all reasonable avenues to identify offenders and recover costs have been exhausted or are not feasible.

The scheme will be administered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and forms part of a broader $21.5 million statewide response to illegal dumping.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said the program was designed to ease the financial burden placed on councils and land managers.

“We’re backing public land managers with the support they need to clean up illegally dumped waste,” he said.

“Too often councils and public land managers are left with a costly mess to clean up from the actions of wrongdoers – this rebate scheme provides support to help cover these costs and keep our suburbs and towns clean.”

Member for Lara Ella George said the funding would support clean-up efforts in Geelong’s northern suburbs.

“Geelong’s North is not a dumping ground, but lately we’ve seen some illegal dumping around Lara and Avalon,” she said. “This funding will help local councils, like the City of Greater Geelong, to clean up illegal dumping when it occurs.”

The funding announcement has been welcomed by EPA Victoria chief executive Joss Crawford, who said illegal dumping continued to impose significant costs on the community.

“Separately, EPA and the Conservation Regulator will spearhead an illegal waste dumping taskforce investigating dumping and holding those responsible to account,” Ms Crawford said.

“Whether they’re being lazy, deliberately avoiding the legitimate cost of legal disposal or dumping for profit, they’re shifting the cost on to the community who are not responsible and who should not be left with a bill for the clean-up.”

As part of the wider crackdown, $13 million has been allocated to strengthen surveillance, intelligence and enforcement through an expanded Illegal Dumping Taskforce, led by the EPA in partnership with the Conservation Regulator.

Illegal dumping can be reported to the EPA on 1300 372 842.

More information about the rebate program, including application details and support contacts, is available via environment.vic.gov.au/grants/illegal-dumping-clean-up-rebate