Council warns Wallan rubbish dump poses health, fire risks
An unsightly wall of toxic building waste and tyres next to homes in Wallan is under scrutiny with residents complaining and the state’s environmental watchdog demanding an urgent clean-up. Now, the local council has weighed in.
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Council will issue an urgent notice to create a 100m fire break around Wallan’s illegal stockpile of toxic industrial waste.
It comes after the Leader revealed walls of rubble, old tyres and household waste had been piling up just metres from homes and Our Lady of the Way primary school in the Newbridge estate, off South Station St.
Environment Protection Authority has also slapped the property owner, which could not be named for privacy reasons, with a clean-up notice — demanding the waste be removed by March 16.
Mitchell Shire Council acting chief executive Mary Agostino said the council was concerned about possible health and fire risks and issued the dumper with a fire prevention notice.
“Illegal dumpers have absolutely no respect or regard for others or the damage they could cause for our community and environment,” she said.
“We are supportive of a hard-line approach by the EPA to have the Newbridge site cleared.”
Wallan resident Jodie Stalenberg said there were wider waste issues across Wallan.
Last week, the Leader found old furniture, mattresses, filthy nappies and broken children's toys strewn across Old Sydney Rd and Rowes Lane.
“Our town is becoming a dump,” Mr Stalenberg said.
“Authorities need to do something — whether it’s installing cameras in disguise to catch vehicle registrations or putting up signs — there needs to be some sort of action.”
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Ms Agostino said council investigations had found much of the dumped junk was coming from people living outside the municipality.
“So much of the waste typically found in dump sites could have been sent to our resource recovery centres for free,” she said.
“We urge the community to be vigilant and report any illegal dumping activity.”