A FOUL stench thought to be coming from a Deer Park quarry is forcing residents indoors.
Gary Mullan and his wife Michelle, who live on The Close in Caroline Springs, said at times the smell was so pungent they had to close their doors and windows and turn off their airconditioner.
“The only way I can describe the smell is that it is like rotting food,” Mr Mullan said.
“We noticed the smell about six months ago and it has got progressively worse.
“Over the Christmas period our rubbish bin wasn’t picked up for a couple of weeks and the smell is similar to that, except it’s everywhere.”
The Boral-operated quarry, on Riding Boundary Road, is being used as a landfill, providing municipal and commercial waste services to Brimbank and Melton councils. It is also used as an energy plant, generating power for 4000 homes in the north-west.
Mr Mullan said he had complained to the Environment Protection Authority on January 6, 26 and 30 but was still waiting for a response.
“We can’t take this smell any more,” he said. “On hot days and nights, when we really should be outside or having windows opened, we have been forced inside our house. It seems to be worse on hotter days when there’s a southerly wind.”
A spokesman for Boral said there could be several possible sources of odour in the area. “We make sure our operations are conducted using equipment and practices designed to minimise the possibility of odour emission,” he said.
“In any instance where Boral’s operations are identified as the source, we work with the EPA to address the matter promptly.”
An EPA spokeswoman said it would investigate the stench this week. “The source of odour is unconfirmed, but recent persistent southerly winds across the surrounding residential areas may be a factor.” Mr Mullan said residents in his street were certain the odour was coming from the quarry. “There really is nothing else around that could be making that kind of odour.”
