A vacant section of land in Truganina has become a dumping hotspot, according to one resident.
Suhail Mohammed said that he and other members of the community want to shine more of a light on dumping that occurs on the corner of Forsyth and Dohertys roads.
“I am part of a local WhatsApp group and one of the guys sent it in, so I visited the site myself and took some pictures,” Mr Mohammed said.
“Dumping on any scale is not good – nobody likes it.”
He said he believes the dumping is caused by a combination of residents and trades people committing the dumping. This has not been confirmed by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
Mr Mohammed also said that a common fear is that if flammable liquids and materials prone to catching fire are dumped, the area’s landscape and close proximity to residential estates could pose danger.
“It is very hot at the moment and the grass is dry over there, so if there is a fire and chemicals in the area, it could be very dangerous to people on account of its proximity to residential areas,” he said.
“I want this to bring to public notice, for people to understand– and as a warning to offenders– that this a serious environmental risk and a potential hazard.
“It’s because the dumping consists of combustible materials like nylon and plastics.”
He said he urges others to pay attention to the spot and report it whenever possible.
“I would tell offenders not to do it, because either way you are hurting yourself and others by harming the environment.
“Also, try and keep an eye on who is doing it so we can help minimise it, even if we cannot eradicate it.”
An EPA spokesperson said the matter has been reported and is currently under investigation.
“We are working to determine who is responsible for removing the waste,” the spokesperson said.
“Illegal waste dumping is a growing issue in Victoria, and an offence that can attract significant financial penalties where EPA or other authorities can identify those responsible.
Anyone with information about illegal waste dumping is urged to contact the EPA directly on 1300 372 842 or get in touch with us online contact@epa.vic.gov.au
