Residents of Clayton South in Melbourne's south-east are frustrated by repeated illegal dumping at a heavy vehicle parking bay off Westall Road, with local and state governments trading blame over cleanup responsibilities. The site, dubbed the "Westall Road tip" by locals, has seen large amounts of waste dumped for years.
Clayton South resident Michael Oldfield said waste piles up for two to three months before being cleared, only to reappear within days. He described a continuous cycle over the past three to five years. The parking bay was cleaned by Department of Transport crews on May 21, but waste returned four days later.
The City of Kingston insists the land is managed by the Victorian government through the Department of Transport and Planning, as it forms part of the arterial road reserve. However, the Department of Transport says the parking bay falls under the council's management. The EPA states cleanup responsibility depends on waste type and location, with household waste on council land being the council's duty.
Statewide, illegal dumping is rising. Hume City Council reported a nearly 70% increase in reports over four years, issuing 263 infringement notices since July 2025, up from 148 the previous year. The council spent $4.2 million on cleanup in 2024-25 but received only $6,200 in state rebates.
The Municipal Association of Victoria says a state task force and $8.5 million rebate program have provided insufficient support. Association president Jennifer Anderson said councils are financially constrained and struggling to fund essential functions. The state government did not respond to questions about the rebate program.
