A truck parking bay in Melbourne's south-east that had become a hotspot for illegal dumping has been closed and fenced off by the state government, but rubbish was dumped outside the new fence within days. Local MP Meng Heang Tak said the move was a response to community concerns, while the Victorian Transport Association says truck drivers were not consulted.
A fence has been installed around the Westall Road parking bay in Clayton South, funded by the state government and announced by local MP Meng Heang Tak. However, within days of completion, rubbish was dumped outside the fence, with local residents reporting the illegal dumping on social media.
Meng Heang Tak said the community had been heard and the government was funding clean-up works to fix the issue. He said the fence would allow rubbish to be removed and disposed of safely.
The Victorian Transport Association criticised the closure, saying truck drivers had not been consulted. Chief executive Peter Anderson said the bay was an important rest area for drivers who travel across the city. "These designated rest areas are really important for those drivers that drive from one side of the city to the other," he said. "It's important for them to be able to stop and have a rest and recover."
Tipper driver Anthony Axarlis, who works for Heidelberg Materials across the road, explained that B-double trucks used the bay to split their loads before entering narrow driveways. He said they would now struggle to find a place to leave their trailers. He described an incident where a car parked in front of his trailer, leaving him waiting to reconnect.
A state government spokesperson said very few trucks used the parking bay due to the illegally dumped rubbish. They said heavy vehicles could park on the opposite side of the road or at a parking bay on South Road, seven kilometres west of Westall Road. Axarlis said the service road opposite only holds three to four trucks and is often occupied by cars.
The illegal dumping problem has prompted broader government action. Last October, an illegal dumping taskforce was announced, overseen by the state's Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The EPA said it was partnering with councils to target dumping hotspots across Victoria, and $8.5 million in rebates have been provided to help councils clean up waste, though the Municipal Association of Victoria has said this is not enough.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Illegal dumping creates environmental and public health risks; the fence's rapid bypassing shows the difficulty of enforcement.
- Truck drivers have lost a designated rest area, potentially impacting freight efficiency and road safety.
- The dispute over responsibility between the state government and local council remains unresolved.
Background
The Westall Road parking bay had been plagued by illegal dumping, causing friction between the state government and local council. In response, the government funded fencing and clean-up, announced by local MP Meng Heang Tak. However, the trucking industry says it was not consulted. The government has also established an illegal dumping taskforce and provides rebates to councils, though the Municipal Association of Victoria says funding is insufficient.
Key Perspectives
Meng Heang Tak: said the community's concerns were heard and the government is funding clean-up works to fix the issue.
Victorian Transport Association: said truck drivers were not consulted on the closure, leaving them without a safe place to park and rest.
Anthony Axarlis (Heidelberg Materials driver): said B-double truck drivers used the bay to split loads and will struggle to find alternative locations.
What to Watch
- Whether the government will address the continued dumping outside the fence.
- Whether alternative parking options for trucks will be developed or expanded.
- Any escalation in the dispute between the state government and local council over responsibility.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe fence was built in a bid to stop illegal dumping, but rubbish was dumped outside it within days.Just In: “However just days after the fence was completed, rubbish had already been dumped outside it.”
- Partly supportedTruck drivers themselves said they were not consulted about the closure of the rest area.Just In: “The Victorian Transport Association, a peak body for freight operators, said truck drivers had not been consulted on the closure.”
- SupportedThe Westall Road bay was closed and fenced off by the state government.Just In: “A truck parking bay that became a hotspot for rubbish dumping in Melbourne's south-east has been closed and fenced off by the state government.”
- Partly supportedThe fence itself was funded by the state government.Just In: “Local state MP Meng Heang Tak announced earlier this month that fencing would be installed around the parking bay so dumped rubbish could be removed and disposed of safely. "We have heard the Clayton South community and we're funding clean-up works to fix this issue," he said.”
- SupportedPeter Anderson said designated rest areas are important for drivers travelling from one side of the city to the other, so they can stop, rest and recover.Just In: “"These designated rest areas are really important for those drivers that drive from one side of the city to the other," he said. "It's important for them to be able to stop and have a rest and recover."”
- SupportedThe Victorian Transport Association said truck drivers had not been consulted about the closure.Just In: “The Victorian Transport Association, a peak body for freight operators, said truck drivers had not been consulted on the closure.”
- SupportedAxarlis said B-double trucks used the bay to split their loads because of the difficulty of navigating narrow driveways, and drivers would struggle to find a place to leave their trailers.Just In: “He said drivers of B-double trucks, which pull two semi-trailers, used the parking bay to split their load. "What they have to do is leave their trailer one at a time and take it in (due to the difficulty of navigating narrow driveways)," he said. "They're going to have dramas finding a spot where to leave their trailer."”
- SupportedAxarlis described a car parking in front of his trailer while he was unloading, leaving him waiting to hook up again.Just In: “"By the time I came back some car has parked in front of my trailer and I have to wait 'til they come back so I can hook up," he said.”
- SupportedA state government spokesperson said few trucks used the bay because of the illegally dumped rubbish, and that heavy vehicles could park across the road or at a South Road bay seven kilometres west.Just In: “A state government spokesperson said very few trucks used the parking bay due to the illegally dumped rubbish. They said heavy vehicles could park on the opposite side of the road or a parking bay on South Road — seven kilometres west of Westall Road.”
- SupportedAxarlis said the service road opposite held only three to four trucks and smaller vehicles often parked there.Just In: “Mr Axarlis said the service road opposite only held three to four trucks and smaller vehicles also often parked there, causing issues when truck drivers unloaded their goods.”
- SupportedLast October, the state government announced an illegal dumping taskforce overseen by the EPA.Just In: “Last October, the state government announced an illegal dumping taskforce to investigate and prosecute illegal dumpers, overseen by the state's Environment Protection Authority (EPA).”
- SupportedThe EPA said it was partnering with councils to target dumping hotspots across Victoria, and $8.5 million in rebates had been provided to help councils clean up waste; the Municipal Association of Victoria said the support was not enough.Just In: “The EPA said it was partnering with councils to identify and respond to illegal dumping hotspots across Victoria. ... Some $8.5 million in rebates were also provided to support councils clean up illegally dumped waste, which the Municipal Association of Victoria has previously said is not enough support to local authorities .”