A Sunshine North waste facility operator may be hauled before the Magistrates Court for a second time in four months after failing to comply with a court order to clean up rotting stockpiles of waste.
Brimbank council successfully prosecuted West End Bin Hire in the Sunshine Magistrates Court in July for failing to adhere to its waste transfer station planning permit obligations. The business was convicted and fined $40,000 and ordered to pay costs of $253.
Yet little appears to have been done to clean up the site, on the corner of Balfour and Auburn avenues, and the business has reportedly continued to accept more waste despite the court ruling prohibiting it from doing so.
Brimbank city development director Stuart Menzies said the waste business “appears to be continuing on the land in a limited capacity”.
“It is disappointing that a number of … operators continue to think they can come into the City of Brimbank and flout planning and environmental controls,” he said.
“Council has liaised with the Environment Protection Authority to co-ordinate further enforcement action. Council is also considering further proceedings at the Magistrates Court.”
When Star Weekly visited the site last week, rubbish spilling on to the road included mattresses, an old bus, carpet, cardboard, car parts, plastic and household waste. In some areas, rubbish was piled about five metres high.
A neighbouring landowner, who did not want to be named, said he was sure asbestos was among the rubbish. He said the site had become a “free-for-all” for illegal rubbish dumping and that he had footage on his mobile phone of people arriving in vans and throwing bags of rubbish over the fence.
EPA metro manager Dan Hunt said the authority had visited the site several times alongside Brimbank council staff.
“The site is located away from homes, schools or public space, so the risk to the community from any asbestos is low,” he said. “However, it remains a priority for the EPA and officers will return within the next week to collect samples to check for asbestos and other waste materials.”
Star Weekly has attempted to contact West End Bin Hire for comment.
