In an attempt to combat the issue, the Victorian government is taking strong action against illegal dumping — cleaning up parks and reserves and ensuring those who trash the environment are held to account.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes has announced applications are opening for the $8.5 million Illegal Dumping Clean-up Rebate Program, providing extra financial support for councils and public land managers to clean up illegally dumped waste.
Illegal dumping is a big issue for public land managers across northern Victoria.
Ms Symes said the government had listened to councils and land managers about the challenges and costs of dealing with illegal dumping.
The Illegal Dumping Clean-up Rebate Program will help public land managers in northern Victoria, such as councils and Crown land Committees of Management, to clean up priority waste.
The program 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.
This rebate program will be facilitated by DEECA and is part of the government’s $21.5 million crackdown on illegal dumping.
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.
“We are helping keep northern Victoria clean, healthy and safe,” Ms Symes said.
All Victorians have a part to play in preventing waste dumping. To report illegal dumping, contact the EPA on 1300 372 842.
To find out more about the program, visit www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/illegal-dumping-clean-up-rebate/
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