Illegal rubbish dumping continues to plague vacant blocks in Maplestone Estate, Sunbury, with Hume council collecting two truck loads of rubbish following concerns raised by residents.
As previously reported by Star Weekly, a resident petition calling for action on preventing illegally dumped rubbish in Maplestone Estate was presented at a council meeting last year.
Sunbury resident and former councillor Trevor Dance said that he believes little action has been taken to address the issue.
“I say [they’ve} done nothing because the amount has increased, and old reported sites are still there,” Mr Dance said.
“It’s a new development and council officers would be there on a regular basis to monitor a new development. Council officers’ own words. So why not actioned?” he said.
Mr Dance said that he sent photos of the dumped rubbish to Hume, but was asked to provide an exact location of the sites affected.
“For council to [ask me to] send them the exact location when they already know from previous complaints and the fact that there is only one road in and out of Maplestone was a joke … they are easily found,” he said.
Mr Dance said that dumped rubbish leads to a broad range of consequences, including to the environment and the cost of removal for landowners.
Following an enquiry from Star Weekly, Hume director of city services and living Anne Mallia said that the council had visited the location to perform an extensive sweep, removing two truck loads of dumped rubbish from council land.
“Hume City Council is consistently monitoring, educating and enforcing on illegal dumping activities through our waste response teams … free council resources to dispose of rubbish, and fines of up to $10,000 for offenders,” she said.
