RESIDENTS living near two former Brimbank landfills have been assured that the sites pose no major health risks, despite high levels of carbon dioxide being detected.
Brimbank Council manager of infrastructure Paul Younis said the second phase of an environmental investigation on former quarries at Sunshine Energy Park in Albion and Carrington Drive Reserve in St Albans was complete. Both sites were rubbish tips in the 1970s and ’80s.
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Mr Younis said while findings indicated a carbon dioxide rate 3 per cent higher than normal, harmful methane gas had not been detected. He said the council and Environment Protection Authority had installed monitoring bores along Denton Avenue and within the landfill sites as part of the investigation. Test pits were also dug in the landfills to test the integrity of soil caps.
“We found that the existing landfill caps designs were in overall better condition than anticipated,” Mr Younis said. “No contaminants were found in the groundwater outside the landfill boundaries that would be considered a risk to residents or the environment, so although the groundwater within the landfill is polluted . . .there is no cause for concern for residents.”
More than 15 people living near the sites attended a public meeting last Tuesday night.
Sunshine North resident Irene Kulakoushi said while she was pleased the sites did not pose a risk to residents, she wanted council to continue with monitoring. She called for the landfill sites to be made safe enough to be converted into a housing estate or preserved as open spaces.
Another Sunshine North resident, who asked not to be named, likened the findings to the Cairnlea housing estate. He sought assurances the findings did not indicate there would be groundwater pollution in the area. The Weekly reported last week that residue from explosives had been found in the soil and groundwater in Cairnlea.
“I’m worried that the risk could be increased because it’s in such close proximity to other landfill and former explosives sites,” the resident said. “I’m also concerned about when I want to renovate my house and whether I will be allowed to build on the back of my property.”
Independent auditor Ken Mival, of URS Australia, said there was a low risk of groundwater becoming polluted at the landfill sites because the contaminated area in Cairnlea was too far from Jones Creek.
Mr Younis said residents living near the landfill sites who wanted to extend their homes would be able to do so once the area had been tested and environmental clearance given.
A phase three report will examine the boundaries of the landfills to establish how far the gases spread. It will be completed by the end of the year. Bores at the sites will be monitored for at least three years to provide a long-term picture.
