Hume City Council response attributable to Mayor of Hume City, Councillor Carly Moore
Council will not tolerate illegal dumping, unlawful land use or deliberate damage to land in Hume City.
These activities cause significant harm to local amenity, impact neighbouring properties, damage land, and create unacceptable burdens for residents and landowners who deserve to live and operate without these issues.
Council understands and shares the community’s frustration. Where we have the authority to act, we will. However, Council’s powers are limited by the current legislative and regulatory framework that governs these matters. Council’s response is often constrained by required planning and regulatory processes, which can limit the speed and scope of enforcement action.
Council has consistently called for stronger enforcement powers and higher penalties to deal with illegal dumping and unlawful land use. Current fines are often not a sufficient deterrent, particularly where individuals or businesses may be profiting from the misuse of land. Penalties must reflect the seriousness of the harm caused to communities, landowners and the environment. That is why Council continues to call for stronger State Government action, including faster enforcement pathways, dedicated funding for clean-up and compliance, and better coordination across agencies
We will continue to pursue every avenue available to us, advocate for stronger laws, and hold those responsible to account wherever Council has the power to do so. Council has also written to the Minister for Environment today on this matter.
The matter in Diggers Rest is currently subject to assessment under relevant planning and regulatory processes. Any information relevant to the matter may be submitted to Council to assist with investigations and assessment.
