Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:58): My question is also for the Minister for Environment. This year residents of Canterbury Hills residential estate in Sunbury have endured months of hell. Around 300 trucks a day clocked up Canterbury Avenue to illegally dump industrial waste and soil at a farm located behind the estate. Some was buried; some was burnt. Residents were relieved in October when Hume council’s VCAT proceedings resulted in a stop order and further relieved to learn that the EPA would issue a fine. Their relief turned to rage when the fine totalled just over $10,000. Based on the number of trucks per day, six days a week, charged at $10 per cubic metre, profits made on the site were likely to be in the order of $200,000 a week. Additionally, there seems to be no ongoing investigation into what was dumped on the site and by whom. My constituent asks: does the minister believe this fine is adequate, and what further steps will the EPA take to investigate this matter?