The Allan Labor Government is cracking down on illegal dumping across Victoria - cleaning up our parks and reserves, and holding illegal dumpers accountable for the mess they leave behind.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today announced $21.5 million to bolster the Illegal Dumping Taskforce and deliver extra financial support for councils and public land managers to clean-up illegally dumped waste.
We've heard from councils and land managers who are facing an increase in dumping. That's why we're delivering $8.5 million to help ease the burden of clean-up costs for illegally dumped and toxic waste in public spaces.
This will help public land managers clean up priority waste - like public health hazards - and will cover up to 50 per cent of the clean-up costs in situations where all avenues to trace the perpetrator and recover costs have been exhausted or are not feasible.
To catch more people flouting the law and hold them to account, $13 million will help the Illegal Dumping Taskforce ramp up surveillance, enforcement and clean-up efforts across Victoria.
The taskforce will be led by the EPA, who will work with Conservation Regulator and undertake enforcement activities using expanded intelligence and monitoring to detect and respond to waste crimes in key locations.
The taskforce will also review fines and cost recovery for illegal dumping, hold offenders to account through the courts and step up naming and shaming of those who do the wrong thing.
Rubbish dumping and littering on public land is illegal with a maximum penalty of $3,951,800 for businesses and $800,000 for individuals or five years imprisonment, or both.
All Victorians have a part to play in preventing waste dumping. To report illegal dumping contact the EPA on 1300 372 842.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"We helping keep our parks and suburbs clean and healthy and we're cracking down on polluters."
"There's no excuse for illegal dumping and anyone who thinks they can get away with it should think again."
As stated by Member for Clarinda Meng Heang Tak
"We're making sure illegal dumpers will be caught and held to account through increased surveillance and stronger enforcement."
