Kurunjang maintenance workers Jason Scott and Trevor Worledge fined for illegal dumping at Coimadai

A pair of gardeners who boast about their rubbish removal service online have been caught dumping massive amounts of illegal waste beside the road.

Scott and Worledge have been franchisees of a gardening maintenance business since 2019 which also provides a trash collection service, according to their website.

A pair of rubbish removalists who illegally dumped a large amount of trash were slapped with large fines and ordered to pay for the clean up.

Jason Scott and Trevor Worledge were not present in Ballarat Magistrates Court when they were found guilty of unlawfully depositing waste and failing to comply with waste gathering and abatement notices.

In January last year, Moorabool Shire Council workers were alerted to a “massive” amount of household goods and rubbish that were dumped on the side of Reservoir Rd at Coimadai, near Bacchus Marsh.

Evidence retrieved from the scene led investigators to contact two residents from a neighbouring shire who said they had paid a rubbish removal service to clean up and dispose of the trash.

Further investigations proved this true.

Moorabool Shire Council began investigating after staff were notified of this mess on Reservoir Rd, Coimadai. Picture: Supplied

Scott and Worledge, who are franchisees of a gardening and maintenance business in Kurunjang, were then taken to court.

Last Friday, Magistrate Ronald Saines found in favour of Moorabool Shire Council and slapped the pair with fines and clean up costs.

Each will have to fork out $12,284 in compensation for the mess.

Worledge was further fined $5000 and ordered to cover $5000 in legal fees, while Scott was further fined $8000 and will cover $440 in fees.

According to their website, Scott and Worledge have been franchisees since 2019 and previously worked at Melton Valley Golf Club for a decade.

Jason Scott and Trevor Worledge have been franchisees of a gardening maintenance business since 2019, according to their website.

Ironically, the page for the Kurunjang franchise boasts about their rubbish removal service.

“Not only do we remove any of the cutting and trimmings we create when we look after your lawn and garden, but we can also provide a rubbish removal service for any extra clean up you need done,” the page states.

“This is a great service to ensure that your home or workplace remains as tidy as it can be.”

The company was contacted but declined to comment.

Moorabool Shire Council acting chief executive Caroline Buisson, after the case concluded, said the court outcome was great for preserving the health of communities and the integrity of natural assets.

“We hope this deters others from illegally dumping goods on Moorabool’s roadways, state parks or anywhere rubbish doesn’t belong,” Ms Buisson said.

Illegal dumping of materials costs the council about $80,000 a year to clean up.

Convictions were recorded for both men.