A lawyer acting on behalf of Mr Hopley appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

She told the court Mr Hopley will plead ‘not guilty’ to one charge each against himself and his company.

Mr Hopley did not attend the hearing.

City of Greater Bendigo compliance officer Raymond Chalkley pressed the charges on May 10 on behalf of the council.

The charges read Mr Hopley failed to comply with a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal order from April 28, 2014, that he stop using Crown Land to store “processed materials”.

Magistrate Bruce Cottrill set aside September 29 for Mr Hopley to formally contest the charges in court.

Hopley Recycling has been using land alongside his White Hills site to store recycled industrial material, but the council alleged proper environmental reports have not been completed.

The City of Greater Bendigo also alleged Mr Hopley did not have the correct permits to use the land.

Councillors voted 6-3 in July to oppose his application to remain on the site when the matter appears before VCAT next month.

Mr Hopley disputed a number of claims made in council reports about the issue, including that there was no evidence the site was safe for use.

Council has been attempting to remove him from the land so environmental testing can take place.

Mr Hopley told the Bendigo Advertiser in July the testing could easily take place without him having to move, and there was no other suitable site in Bendigo for him to store the recycled material.

He said they had been allowed to build a 500 metre water pipe through the land.

Mr Hopley sent a letter to nine councillors, but only three voted in favour of his use of the former tip.

Hopley Recycling engages in the large-scale recycling of industrial products, including demolished buildings.

The company was moved from its Eaglehawk site in 2008 after its operations became too large to remain near a residential area.

Hopley Recycling is believed to be one of the only companies of its type in regional Victoria.