Yarra Ranges Council orders illegal Kilsyth tip to shut down

AN ILLEGAL tip in Kilsyth has been ordered to shut down after the council refused a permit for a skip bin hire business — and it says it will take action if the owner doesn’t comply.

The tip on Liverpool Rd, Kilsyth, has been operating for more than two years. Picture: Steve Tanner

AN ILLEGAL tip in Kilsyth has been ordered to shut down after Yarra Ranges councillors refused the owner a permit for a skip bin hire business.

The council says it will take the tip owner to court if he refuses to comply.

Rogue dumpers turn Melbourne suburbs into tips

At last week’s council meeting, angry councillors ordered the waste transfer station, that has been ­running without a permit for more than two years at 199 Liverpool Rd, be shut down.

The Leader previously reported people living near the industrial site were furious that rubbish was piling up, and had complained to the council and the EPA about the smell.

Trucks are transporting rubbish from hired skips to the site and dumping it before it is taken to a tip.

People who live near the tip protesting over the permit application. Picture: Steve Tanner

At last week’s meeting, Kilsyth resident Patrick Yii, on behalf of a group opposing the application, said there were concerns about toxic dust and rubbish spilling from the site, seeping into the groundwater and running into streets when it rained.

“There are urgent and enduring health and safety issues,” Mr Yii said.

He said they also had issues with “obnoxious” smells, noise from trucks, debris, and near misses with trucks .

Cr Tim Heenan said no one had the right to dump rubbish if it blew out of the ­property.

Cr Mike Clarke said opposing the permit was a “no brainer”.

“How can we, as a council, tolerate this for as long as we have?” Cr Clarke said.

“This site needs to be cleared up rather than made worse.”

EPA metro acting manager Marleen Mathias said the authority had received one complaint about the site but had referred it to the council.

Ms Mathias said the EPA could help the council with site inspections if needed.

The council’s social and economic director Ali Wastie said the applicant could appeal to VCAT but would still have to stop using the site in the meantime.

“If they persist, council will commence prosecution,” Ms Wastie said.

The applicant didn’t return the Leader’s calls.