Kingston Council to crack down on dumping in green wedge
ILLEGAL rubbish dumps and storage depots are being targeted in green wedge zones in Melbourne’s southeast but a Kingston action group wants council to do more.
South East
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ROGUE green wedge operators will face the full wrath of Kingston Council under a plan to crack down on illegal activities.
Unauthorised rubbish dumps and transport storage facilities are among operations in its sights.
The 2070ha Kingston green wedge is set aside for sustainable land use, agriculture, open space, rural residential use, golf courses and permitted landfill use.
RELATED: Green wedge zone to expand in Kingston
An unauthorised waste transfer station on private green wedge land in Dingley Village has been shut down by Kingston Council.
The council has launched legal action against an unauthorised dump in Heatherton due to ongoing compliance issues and recently targeted a wood yard in Clarinda. The wood yard owners were given a week to cease activity but have failed to do so.
An unauthorised bin operation in Clayton South and two truck storage facilities in Dingley Village were given 30 days to explain their operations.
Defenders of the South East Green Wedge secretary Barry Ross applauded the council but said more work needed to be done.
“There are a lot of activities that don’t seem to be appropriate in the green wedge,” Mr Ross said.
“There are tips and bin operations and all sorts of inappropriate activities — I’d say there is certainly more to be done.”
Kingston Mayor David Eden said the green wedge was vital for open space and agriculture and the council was committed to stamping out illegal activity.
“Council is committed to seeing the end of the waste industry in our green wedge and enhancing the area with new parklands,” Cr Eden said.
“We’re also taking a tough approach to ensure that any unauthorised activities are quickly identified and ceased.”
“Anyone who suspects unauthorised activities can contact council for our compliance officers to investigate.”
In 2015, Kingston’s northern green wedge was protected for public parkland when amended council planning laws were approved by Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
People can report unauthorised activity or seek more information by contacting Kingston Council on 1300 653 356.