CCTV has caught a Wollert builder dumping construction waste on a residential block of land in a Donnybrook housing estate.
On 1 April this year, a Gill Building and Design Pty Ltd tipper truck was caught on camera delivering a mixed load of about 3,000 litres of broken concrete, piping, plastic, soil, and green waste on the site which does not have the necessary permission to be used for such purposes.
“Gill Building would know it shouldn’t have been dumping this waste, and we’ve fined them $9,880 and they also face a cost of a further $7,000 to remove and dispose of it legally,” said EPA North Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett.
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“We confirmed the dumped waste contained fragments of asbestos and zinc levels above fill material guidelines which will add to the disposal costs and the severity of the penalty.
“EPA is seeing increased incidents of illegal waste dumping as people and businesses try to evade the legitimate cost of disposal. All they’re doing is pushing that cost on to the community for the sake of their own profit.
“It’s a problem for the entire state and we will enforce the law and penalise those we catch. The community often helps us to spot dump sites and the dumpers.”
Fine for dumping tyres in trees
In other news, EPA Victoria has fined a Wurruk man $1,976 after someone spotted him dumping a load of waste tyres in a commercial tree plantation near Traralgon.
The witness reported seeing a man throwing tyres from the back of a tilt tray, while another man drove the vehicle. They reported the offence and the number plate details to EPA.
EPA officers went to the location on 12 May 2025 and found just under 50 waste tyres scattered at locations along a track in the plantation.
They traced the number plate to a business in Traralgon, where they inspected the premises and questioned the Wurruk man.
EPA says illegally dumped waste tyres will eventually decompose, contaminating the land and nearby waterways, and they can burn, producing toxic smoke if they catch fire.
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the man has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.