Cr Henderson said Hepburn Shire Council worked hard to provide one of the lowest rubbish disposal costs in the state and said residents had to take responsibility for disposing of their waste in a safe, legal and environmentally friendly way.

The array of rubbish, photographed dumped off the Bald Hills Road includes many mattresses.

“Rubbish dumping is an awful thing and quite often people do get caught,” Cr Henderson said. 

“The fines are massive. The Hepburn Shire has the cheapest rubbish dumping, a lot of people actually travel from Maryborough to Creswick (to dispose of rubbish).”

Disposing of mattresses in the Hepburn Shire costs $25 compared to the cost at the Ballarat transfer station of $32.50.

General rubbish disposal at Ballarat is $45.40 per cubic metre.

This is compared to only $36 per cubic metre at Creswick.

“It’s disgusting (that people do this). Park Victoria and council take a lot of effort to maintain parkland areas,” Cr Henderson said.

“The dumping of rubbish including asbestos is toxic and costly (for agencies) to dispose of.” 

The Victorian government committed $6.3 million over three years to support EPA’s Illegal Dumping Strikeforce program. 

This gives EPA the resources and mandate to reduce the risks to the environment from illegal waste management and to create a more level playing field.