Tuesday, 15 August 2023

 Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (14:39): (262) My question is on behalf of a Wangaratta resident who reached out to me recently, and the question is directed to the Minister for Environment in the other place. He has raised concerns around the new Victorian government waste management rules, where anyone taking excess soil to the waste centres is expected to pay $770 for a soil test before they can drop the soil at the waste area. This would be acceptable for a truckload of soil or commercial quantities, but when a ratepayer needs to dispose of a cubic metre of soil or very small amounts, they should not be expected to pay $770 for a soil test. We ask the minister to stop this ridiculous situation and ensure a threshold or a quantity of soil – minimum cubic meters – before the soil must be tested. This will only drive the problem underground, pardon the pun. This will lead to soil dumping in state parks and isolated back roads. We are in a cost-of-living crisis, and we get this.

The SPEAKER: I did not hear a question there, member for Ovens Valley.