Mornington Peninsula Shire enforcement officers have issued a series of fines following investigations into unlawful waste disposal and littering offences across the municipality.
Recent enforcement actions include:
A Cranbourne-based excavation company fined $16,280 for failing to comply with statutory notices after its vehicle was involved in the unlawful roadside dumping of waste. The driver of the vehicle was also fined $4,070 for illegally depositing the waste and failing to comply with statutory notices.
A Hastings-based civil construction company fined $12,211 after a truckload of vegetation was dumped on the roadside and for failing to comply with statutory notices.
An Airtasker from Mount Martha fined $3,663 after waste they were paid to remove was found illegally dumped, with further penalties for failing to comply with statutory notices.
A Rosebud man fined $2,442 after being witnessed dumping waste behind a business and returning the following night to dump more waste.
A Fraser Rise man fined $2,035 after using a hired vehicle to dump sofas on a roadside.
A Hastings man fined $2,035 after setting fire to a trailer loaded of waste that had been abandoned on a roadside, with Victoria Police investigating further offences.
A Thornbury-based company fined $2,035 for depositing general waste in and around public bins across the Peninsula.
A Rye man fined $1,221 after disposing of waste from a storage unit, in bins belonging to a neighbouring business.
A Mornington woman fined $2,849 after dumping waste in a Council reserve and failing to comply with statutory notices.
Two drivers fined $814 and $407 after officers witnessed lit and unlit cigarette butts being discarded from moving vehicles.
Several additional alleged dumping offences are scheduled to be heard before the Magistrates' Court. The Shire will continue to investigate reports and prosecute offenders where required.
Illegal dumping is unsightly, harmful to the environment and places an unnecessary financial burden on the community.
Many items dumped illegally could have been disposed of free of charge through the Shire's hard waste collection service or at a Resource Recovery Centre.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to use authorised waste disposal services and to ensure contractors dispose of waste lawfully.
Mayor Stephen Batty said illegal dumping of rubbish is unacceptable, and the Shire will continue to take strong action against offenders.
"Illegal dumping is costly to clean up and harmful to our environment - reserves, parks and waterways," Cr Batty said.
"We have free disposal options available, including hard waste collections and Resource Recovery Centres, so there is no excuse for dumping rubbish in our streets, reserves or public spaces."
