On January 27, 2026, as Victoria endured its hottest day on record, Jayden Chetcuti allegedly exacerbated the situation in Wollert, a suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne. With temperatures soaring past 45 degrees Celsius, the 26-year-old concrete pumper is accused of igniting a bonfire using demolition refuse, despite a total fire ban in effect.
The blaze quickly escalated into a grass fire, fueled by strong northerly winds, threatening a nearby housing estate. It required over 20 vehicles from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria, along with a helicopter, to contain the fire. This incident marks yet another occasion where firefighters have been summoned to the same Wollert property, located 40 kilometers north of Melbourne’s center.
Ongoing EPA Investigation
Currently, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating Jayden Chetcuti for allegedly depositing and burning industrial waste unlawfully. He is also accused of ignoring the EPA’s directive to halt these activities and remediate the site. His father, Joseph Chetcuti, faces similar charges for accepting industrial waste without a permit at various locations in Diamond Creek, north-east of Melbourne, and failing to comply with cleanup notices.
Industry insiders, speaking anonymously, revealed to The Age that the Chetcutis have been operating a black market disposal service, offering cut-rate prices to small operators seeking to bypass Victoria’s landfill levy, which rose from $129 to $170 per tonne last year.
“It’s been like six years in a row, every year the EPA is putting up the levy for rubbish … prices have gone up that much to take rubbish to the landfill, and people, of course they have to find shortcuts because people don’t have much money to afford all that,” said an industry source.
The Expansion of Illegal Operations
The Chetcuti operation reportedly began modestly on a Diamond Creek property, initially receiving a few tipper trucks daily. However, it expanded significantly, with up to 100 trucks a day depositing construction waste and soil. Although the Diamond Creek site was shut down in September last year, the Chetcutis continued their activities. By October, Jayden Chetcuti had leased the Wollert property, transforming it into an industrial-scale disposal site.
Satellite images show rapid development of the site, hidden from public view, into a sprawling dump for building waste and soil by December. Despite multiple visits from the CFA, it was not until January 27 that police intervened, leading to Jayden Chetcuti’s arrest and subsequent release after questioning.
Community and Environmental Concerns
Local residents and authorities have expressed significant concerns. A nearby resident reported frequent nighttime fires that smoldered for days, prompting him to temporarily relocate his family due to smoke and dust. The property’s access road often resembled a commercial tip, bustling with trucks.
Northern Metropolitan Liberal MP Evan Mulholland addressed the issue in state parliament, highlighting the dangers posed by such activities during fire bans.
“I was shocked to learn of this occurring and that it has even taken place during total fire bans, risking devastating consequences for local communities,” Mulholland stated.
The property is surrounded by heritage-listed dry stone walls and is part of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment Program, which protects habitats for critically endangered species. Additionally, a high-pressure gas pipeline critical to Melbourne’s supply runs through the site, raising further safety concerns.
Denials and Legal Proceedings
Jayden Chetcuti, when contacted, confirmed leasing the property but denied burning industrial waste, claiming the materials were green waste.
“People might call it industrial waste or classify it as that but not until the right authorities have viewed it,” Chetcuti argued. “I mean, it’s all trees and stuff that would have been known as green waste as well as hardwood timber.”
The EPA has issued directives and remedial notices concerning the site, but the investigation remains ongoing, limiting public disclosures.
Joseph Chetcuti is scheduled to appear in court in May, having entered a guilty plea. The case continues to unfold, with potential implications for waste management practices and regulatory enforcement in Victoria.
