Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council | Constituency Questions
2 December 2025
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
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?
Written Answer
Received: 17 February 2026
Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP
(Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation)
Hume City Council is the lead regulator in addressing the deposit of fill material at Riddell Road in Sunbury near Canterbury Hills residential estate. Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is providing support.
Hume City Council went to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, who issued a stop order on 16 October 2025 halting earthworks at the 370 Riddell Road site. Further information can be found at https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/Latest-News/News-and-Media-Releases/2025/VCAT-decision-to-stop-trucks-on-Canterbury-Avenue(opens in a new window). The movement of large vehicles through the Canterbury Hills residential estate was associated with those earthworks and has since ceased.
As a result of a joint inspection with council on 3 October 2025, EPA fined the occupier of the Sunbury property after observing industrial waste being burnt. EPA also issued the property owner (Active Farming Pty Ltd) with an Environmental Action Notice which requires the company to immediately cease accepting and burning industrial waste and to remove all industrial waste from the site by 30 January 2026.
EPA continues to support council by conducting regular joint inspections and will take further regulatory actions if there are further breaches under Environment Protection Act 2017.
The Victorian Government is cracking down on illegal dumping and holding those responsible to account by announcing $13 million to bolster the Illegal Dumping Taskforce to ramp up surveillance, enforcement and clean-up efforts across Victoria.
[ENDS]
Banner image: Canterbury Avenue Sunbury Facebook Page
