A Victorian mayor has criticized the state government’s handling of a toxic waste dumping incident near Bacchus Marsh, accusing authorities of failing to protect public safety.
The controversy stems from a ruling by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which has ordered the Moorabool Shire Council to clean up 20 pallets of highly hazardous acetylene cylinders dumped on council land. These cylinders contain asbestos and are highly flammable, posing a serious environmental and public health threat.
The dumping incident
The cylinders, which were previously stored on a private property in Merrimu, a small town near Bacchus Marsh, were moved onto council land where they were abandoned beside a public road. According to Moorabool Shire Mayor Paul Tatchell, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) had been aware of the illegal dumping for two years but did nothing to stop it.
“The EPA knew about this for two years and chose not to intervene,” Tatchell said. “Instead of taking action, they monitored the property, watching as these highly dangerous cylinders were discarded. Now the ratepayers of Moorabool will be left with a $500,000 cleanup bill, plus legal costs, to deal with the consequences of the EPA’s inaction.”
VCAT ruling and EPA’s role
The VCAT hearing revealed that the EPA had placed cameras at the Merrimu property to monitor the movement of the acetylene cylinders, but did not intervene in real-time. The footage captured was only reviewed after the incident had occurred, meaning it provided no opportunity for the EPA to prevent the illegal dumping.
The tribunal ruled that the Moorabool Shire Council is responsible for clearing the site, despite the fact that the council was not involved in the dumping. In a statement, Moorabool CEO Derek Madden emphasized that the community is now being forced to pay for the EPA’s failure to properly manage the site.
“We are left with the financial burden of cleaning up something the EPA knew about and did nothing to stop,” said Madden. “This isn’t just a local problem—this is a failure of state authorities to act in the best interests of Victorians.”
EPA’s response and continuing investigation
Despite the controversy, the EPA has insisted that its decision for the council to clean up the waste remains in force. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that the investigation into the illegal dumping is ongoing, although they did not provide further details on the identity of the individuals responsible for the dumping.
“There are thousands of these dangerous cylinders across Victoria,” said Mayor Tatchell. “The EPA knows where they are, but they have yet to take any meaningful action. This isn’t just about Merrimu; this is a state-wide issue.”
Government’s stance on illegal waste dumping
The Victorian Government has responded by claiming it is working alongside local councils to combat illegal waste dumping. A spokesperson from the government noted that the EPA has been granted stronger powers to tackle offenders, with tougher penalties for those who repeatedly engage in illegal dumping.
“We understand the impact that illegal dumping has on local communities and the environment,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why we’ve given the EPA greater powers to take action and disrupt illegal waste disposal.”
While the state government has pledged to crack down on illegal dumping, the mayor of Moorabool remains skeptical, asserting that the current system is not working effectively to protect local communities.
