Locals are distraught after learning an underground fire that has been burning at the Kealba landfill for six years may take another four years to be fully extinguished.
Three of the four fires have now been extinguished at the site, which is managed by Barro Group.
Local resident Nicole Power, who has been negatively impacted by odours at the site for years, said she was gutted by the news.
“If I could leave this area tomorrow, I would without any hesitation. I would jump out of here in a heartbeat if I could,” Ms Power said.
“It’s pretty gut-wrenching to tell us another four years.”
In a statement to Star Weekly, EPA western metropolitan regional manager Julia Gaitan said Barro informed the EPA that extinguishing the remaining hot spot could take between two and four years.
“EPA met with members of the Kealba community to update them with progress at the Barro Group’s Kealba site now that the decision has been made to focus legal efforts on upholding EPA’s revocation of Barro’s licence to operate the landfill,” Ms Gaitain said.
“[Barro plans] on using an oxygen suppression methodology to extinguish the hotspot. This seals up all air ingress pathways and monitoring the gas and temperature values to understand the progress of extinguishment.
“The process takes time and is dependent on multiple factors, but it has significantly reduced odour emissions from the abatement works.
“EPA will continue to receive quarterly progress reports and will monitor and act as required if reports of odour are received.
“EPA expects to receive further information in coming weeks and will update the community if it leads to changes in our approach. We’re committed to keeping the community as informed as possible and will host a community consultation meeting on the operations at the landfill in late September.”
Ms Barrow, who attended the meeting, said she felt the EPA has let the community down.
“I don’t trust the EPA one bit. They have failed us over and over and over again.”
The meeting comes after the EPA dropped criminal charges against Barro last month for its mismanagement of the site.
