Managing Closed Landfills
The Rural City of Wangaratta manages approximately 18 closed landfill sites across the municipality. While these sites are no longer active, they continue to be carefully managed to ensure they are safe, stable, and suitable for ongoing use.
Council manages closed landfill sites in accordance with the General Environmental Duty under the Environment Protection Act 2017. This means taking reasonably practicable steps to minimise risks to human health and the environment, including maintaining landfill caps and infrastructure, monitoring potential impacts to water, soil and air, and applying appropriate controls so surrounding land can be used safely for community, recreational, rural or other suitable purposes.
Where required, site-specific aftercare management arrangements guide inspections, maintenance activities and environmental monitoring. These arrangements help Council identify and manage potential risks including landfill gas, groundwater impacts, surface water impacts, exposed waste, settlement, erosion and disturbance to landfill capping.
Council is committed to ongoing environmental assessment and transparent management of closed landfill sites. Monitoring outcomes, site inspections and any required management actions are used to inform safe future use, maintenance planning and community information.
Council is committed to ensuring these areas remain safe, accessible, and beneficial for the community.
Council’s management is guided by site-specific After Care Management Plans, which focus on:
Protecting the environment
Keeping people safe
Maintaining sites long-term
Planning for Future Use
Most routine works can be safely managed through planning and controls.
However, more detailed assessment may be required where:
In some cases, an independent environmental audit may be required under Victorian legislation.
A Safe and Active Future
With appropriate management, closed landfill sites can continue to provide:
What is a closed landfill?
A closed landfill is a former waste disposal site that has been:
Even after closure, these sites require ongoing monitoring and management.
How are these sites used?
Closed landfill sites across Wangaratta are used for a range of land uses, including:
Open space and recreation
Council’s goal is to protect environmental values and support natural regeneration while maintaining controls that prevent soil disturbance, protect the landfill cap and manage risks to people, wildlife and the surrounding environment.
How to find closed landfill locations?
You can view the location of closed landfill sites across Victoria using the EPA Victoria “Unearthed” map.
Visit the EPA Unearthed interactive map:
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/unearthed
This online tool allows you to:
This helps provide transparency and supports informed community awareness.
What are the Closed Landfill Site Locations?
|
|
|
|
|
|
47 Twamley Road, Glenrowan, VIC 3675
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Cemetery Lane, Boorhaman, VIC 3678
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
903 Banksdale Road, Hansonville, VIC 3675
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Racecourse Road, Wangaratta, VIC 3678
|
|
|
|
Golf Links Lane, Wangaratta, VIC 3677
|
Open space and recreation
|
|
|
Wilson Road, Wangaratta, VIC 3677
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Gibb St/Faithful St, Oxley
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
5865 Mansfield-Whitfield Road, Whitfield, VIC 3733
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Cnr Snow Road and Chardonnay Drive, Milawa, VIC 3678
|
Open space and recreation
|
|
|
Gayfer Road/Vipond Road, Springhurst, VIC 3682
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Diffey Lane, Tarrawingee, VIC 3678
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
79 Woolshed Road, Eldorado, VIC 3746
|
|
|
|
Racecourse Lane, Whorouly, VIC 3735
|
Closed natural reserve area
|
|
|
Boggy Creek Road, Moyhu, VIC 3732
|
|
|
|
Forest Lane, Markwood, VIC 3678
|
|
Is it safe to use parks or reserves built on a closed landfill?
Yes.
Sites are assessed, maintained, and monitored to ensure they are safe for everyday activities such as walking, sports, and events.
Is it safe for children to play on these sites?
Yes.
These areas are suitable for general public use. However:
Why are some sites used for grazing or commercial purposes?
Some former landfill sites are suitable for low-impact uses such as grazing or certain commercial activities, provided risks are appropriately managed.
Can I undertake works (e.g. dig a trench or install a fence)?
Approval is required.
Even small works can disturb:
Always contact Council before undertaking any works.
Does the landfill still cause pollution?
At sites with elevated risks council actively monitors:
What happens if contamination is found?
Work must stop immediately.
Council will assess and manage the situation appropriately.
How are these sites regulated?
Council manages closed landfills in line with:
What is Council's responsibility?
Council manages these sites in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic), which requires us to:
Why is management still required?
Although these areas may look like normal land, closed landfills can still contain:
For this reason, any ground disturbance must be carefully managed.
Can you undertake works on a closed landfill?
Before works take place (such as trenching, installing services, or construction), Council requires:
These controls ensure:
Reporting Issues or Concerns
If you notice any issues at a park, open space, or former landfill site—such as unusual odours, exposed materials, ground disturbance, or maintenance concerns—you can report this directly to Council.
Reporting helps Council:
- Respond quickly to potential issues
Submit a report
For enquiries or to discuss proposed works:
Rural City of Wangaratta – Waste Management Team