Shire to host statewide illegal dumping summit

Published on 15 October 2025

Mayors, CEOs and senior staff from councils across Victoria will come to Moorabool Shire to take part in Moorabool Shire Council’s Illegal Dumping Summit on 30 October.

Council is hosting the summit off the back of its dispute with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over the clean-up of toxic waste on a property near Bacchus Marsh and ongoing illegal dumping of rubbish throughout the shire.

“We have decided to host a summit with representatives from other councils to determine a collaborative approach and drive shared solutions for this issue,” Mayor Cr Paul Tatchell said.

“We’re looking forward to hearing what other councils are experiencing with illegal dumping and what measures they are putting in place to combat this widespread issue.” 

Council will share its experience on the ongoing issue with the EPA in which Council was forced to pay $500,000 to clean up trailers of dissolved acetylene cylinders, illegally dumped on Council-managed land near Bacchus Marsh while under the EPA’s watch. 

The EPA had the property the trailers originated from under surveillance for at least a year and had failed to act until the trailers turned up on Council-managed land.  

In addition to this issue, Council will lead discussions on illegally dumped rubbish, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to clean up. Council is continuing to run a campaign targeting illegal dumping in the shire, particularly by builders and contractors coming into the area for work.

Council will share the outcomes of the summit with participating councils.

For more information on Council’s illegal dumping campaign: moorabool.vic.gov.au/illegal-dumping