General News
31 March, 2026
Council offered transfer station closures to save money, locals aren’t happy
Central Goldfields Shire's communities are voicing their frustration with council's proposed closure of transfer stations in Talbot, Dunolly, and Bealiba.
Communities across the shire are vocalising their opposition to the proposed closure of transfer stations in Talbot, Dunolly, and Bealiba.
The possible cuts come as part of last week’s draft budget which slashes Central Goldfields Shire Council’s transfer stations down to one, Carisbrook, to save money.
But community angst has seen the news spread in lounge rooms, outside bakeries, over post office counters and wherever locals meet.
“It’s just going to be a really bad thing for our community,” a Bealiba resident said.
The closures are one part of a plan to put Central Goldfields Shire Council back in operating surplus.
They’ve proposed reducing labour costs, improving efficiency, selling surplus land, ending the Community Grants Program and closing three-quarters of their transfer stations.
While council’s excuse was rising costs, former Paddys Ranges ward councillor Chris Meddows-Taylor said another way had to be found.
“That’s not an excuse, at the end of the day, for bad public policy,” he said.
“It’s the wrong move at the worst time.”
Central Goldfields Shire Council’s urban communities enjoy regular kerbside bin collection but this isn’t the case for rural areas.
Rural residents receive a reduced service, or none at all, instead relying on their local transfer station.
Dunolly resident Judy Meldrum said locals were “furious” their transfer station was on the chopping block.
“It’s almost unbelievable,” she said.
In 2019, ahead of their Waste Management Strategy 2020 - 2030, council surveyed the shire’s community.
Council found two thirds of respondents said they travel less than 15 kilometres to visit a transfer station.
Just less than half of respondents prepared to travel up to 30 km.
However, if council’s proposal is a success Bealiba, Dunolly, and Talbot’s residents will have to travel 94 km, 52 km, and 36 km respectively to dispose of their rubbish.
Using the Australian Taxation Office’s vehicle use calculator of 88 cents per kilometre that will cost Bealiba residents over $80 in fuel alone.
Bealiba’s Alan Chamings said, as a pensioner factoring in tip fees, he can’t afford it.
“What pensioner can afford to pay $100 to dump their rubbish,” he said.
Both he and Wendy Chamings are concerned what this will mean for rubbish dumping in rural areas.
However, Ms Chamings said the cost will give them little choice.
“It’s not going to happen. I’d rather go and dump it in the bush,” she said.
Ms Chamings isn’t alone in her thinking either with illegally dumped waste on the rise in Victoria.
Mr Meddows-Taylor said closing the transfer stations would only make this worse while costing the council more to clean up.
“Waste dumping is already a statewide issue of concern. Why are we adding to it,” he said.
Dunolly’s George Grover asked a similiar question.
“It’s a nice little town but if everyone starts getting rubbish dumped everywhere it just goes to pieces,” he said.
“You’ve only got to go the back road and there’s mattresses on the side of the road.”
Bealiba’s Evans Hotel owner John Maher found the same around Bealiba.
“If there’s an old [mining] dig-in it’s full of rubbish,” he said.
While there’s been a surge in opposition, including a petition started by Dunolly Rural Transaction Centre, residents only have until April 16 to make their voice heard.
Mr Meddows-Taylor said the time given for submissions is “highly offensive and wrong” given the transfer station’s importance.
“There is quite inadequate consultation and inadequate time to respond on what is a significant change to an incredibly longstanding and taken for granted facility,” he said.
Central Goldfields Shire Council invite the community to read and provide feedback on the Draft Budget 2026/27 at engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/budget
Submissions can be made using the online form or in writing by 5 pm on April 16 2026, by email to mail@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au or delivered to 22 Nolan Street, Maryborough.
Submitters will also need to indicate on their submissions if they would like to speak at a Special Budget Hearing Meeting on Wednesday, April 29 2026.