Grandmother’s tenant lets four-bedroom home turn into tip
As high as the roof, rubbish as far as the eye can see.
This is the story of a 70-year-old grandmother, the brother of a convicted terrorist, and a rental agreement.
The tenant is Ari Sherani (centre). A Current Affair
Too scared to be identified, the landlord has asked not to be named.
The tenant said he was going to move into the four-bedroom home in Melbourne’s north-west and live at the property.
While he never did that, trucks were seen dumping tonnes of rubbish at the property shortly after he signed the lease.
“My neighbours say more than 25 trucks, so big trucks come into this property dumping rubbish,” the owner said.
The tenant is Ari Sherani.
He is a free man after a jury acquitted him in 2023 over allegations relating to planning a terror attack.
His little brother was not so lucky, found guilty of terrorism-related offences and jailed for lighting fires in the same bushland scorched on Black Saturday.
Now there’s fears Sherani could be behind this pile of rubbish.
“They make this house like a commercial rubbish depot,” the owner said.
Four days after Sherani signed the residential tenancy agreement, trucks started tipping.
“He signed the lease on the 25th June, so less than four weeks,” the owner said.
The Environment Protection Authority has given Sherani a deadline to remove all waste by August 14. A Current Affair
The landlord uncovered text messages that had been sent out advertising her Diggers Rest hobby farm as a tip.
“Temporary tip.. Open daily.. Cash required before entry for each load,” the text reads.
The ad lists prices including $1000 for rubbish and $750 for green waste, while mixed and wet fill and grassy soil was also accepted.
“One of my neighbours has moved out, she is very scared,” the owner said.
A Current Affair phoned one of the trucks pictured at the property, who revealed they didn’t dump after being told at the gate: “Our EFTOS machine is down, we only accept cash”.
A Current Affair put these allegations to Sherani, with no response.
“I cannot believe it,” the owner said.
Too scared to be identified, the landlord has asked not to be named. A Current Affair
“I don’t know what to do with all this rubbish.”
The Environment Protection Authority has given Sherani a deadline to remove all waste by August 14, telling A Current Affair it will “not hesitate to take escalated enforcement action should the occupier fail to comply”.
Victorian Libertarian leader David Limbrick has taken the fight to parliament.
“They don’t seem to show any fear at all of getting in trouble with the law, and clearly that’s a failing of the law,” Limbrick said.
The trucks have stopped for now but the piles are going nowhere.
“2000 tonnes of rubbish is sitting at the back paddock,” the owner said.
Statement from the EPA
EPA Victoria has ordered the occupier of a property in Bulla-Diggers Rest Road to immediately cease accepting industrial waste and remove all waste deposited at the site by 14 August.
EPA will not hesitate to take escalated enforcement action should the occupier fail to comply.
The property was leased to the current tenant in late June, 2026.
After receiving reports of illegal dumping on the site in early July, EPA confirmed the presence of illegally dumped industrial waste on 16 July.
An Environmental Action Notice was issued to the tenant on 17 July.
EPA continues to monitor the site to assess compliance.
As this is an active operational matter, we are unable to provide further details.
Statement from Hume City Mayor Carly Moore
Council will not tolerate illegal dumping, unlawful land use or deliberate damage to land in Hume City.
These activities cause significant harm to local amenity, impact neighbouring properties, damage land, and create unacceptable burdens for residents and landowners who deserve to live and operate without these issues.
Council understands and shares the community’s frustration. Where we have the authority to act, we will.
However, Council’s powers are limited by the current legislative and regulatory framework that governs these matters.
Council’s response is often constrained by required planning and regulatory processes, which can limit the speed and scope of enforcement action.
Council has consistently called for stronger enforcement powers and higher penalties to deal with illegal dumping and unlawful land use.
Current fines are often not a sufficient deterrent, particularly where individuals or businesses may be profiting from the misuse of land.
Penalties must reflect the seriousness of the harm caused to communities, landowners and the environment.
That is why Council continues to call for stronger State Government action, including faster enforcement pathways, dedicated funding for clean-up and compliance, and better coordination across agencies
We will continue to pursue every avenue available to us, advocate for stronger laws, and hold those responsible to account wherever Council has the power to do so.
Council has also written to the Minister for Environment today on this matter.
The matter in Diggers Rest is currently subject to assessment under relevant planning and regulatory processes.
Any information relevant to the matter may be submitted to Council to assist with investigations and assessment.
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