A waste criminal investigation squad will be established to tackle illegal waste and chemical stockpiles, but no new funding will be directed towards the clean-up of an illegal dumpsite near Kaniva as part of a $71 million state government initiative.
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The new Waste Crime Prevention Inspectorate will be set up as part of the Environment Protection Authority, who work to prevent and reduce pollution and waste.
The funding will pay for new staff, equipment and operating costs.
It does not include the cost of cleaning up an illegal dumpsite discovered near Kaniva. The EPA has not provided an estimated cost, but state opposition members have claimed the clean-up could cost around $125 million.
The EPA took control of the site in December last year, after owner Graham Leslie White failed to respond to a show-cause notice.
Mr White is alleged to have kept 50 million litres of suspected chemical waste at the 1400-hectare property at Lemon Springs, off Kaniva-Edenhope Road.
The EPA is currently working on excavating 20 underground dump sites on the property.
Mr White, 58, also faces 55 charges over chemical stockpiles found in Melbourne warehouses.
Worksafe has alleged the Mr White breached the Dangerous Goods Act by storing more than 6 million litres of waste across five warehouses in Epping, Campbellfield and West Footscray.
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