Shut up shop? Kerry Rosevear is worried her home business will be forced to fold in the wake of the methane mess. 22969 Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Glen Atwell
CRANBOURNE reflexologist Kerry Rosevear is scared the Brookland Greens methane mess will force her to close her home business.
Ms Rosevear operates her business from Taylor Street, a couple of kilometres from the Stevensons Road landfill that is leaching dangerous levels of methane gas.
Ms Rosevear said when customers found out her business was near Brookland Greens, they were walking the other way.
“There is a stigma attached to Brookland Greens, and even Cranbourne in general, in the wake of this disaster,” she said.
Reflexology is a natural therapy, involving massaging and squeezing parts of the feet to encourage improved health in parts of the body.
“My customers appreciate natural medicine, and don’t want to come to a suburb with methane gas problems. It’s a health risk,” Ms Rosevear said.
Ms Rosevear attended last Tuesday night’s council meeting in the hope of having some of her questions answered but walked out with only handouts.
“I came to gather more information, so I can reassure my customers, but all I got was information sheets,” she said.
“I love Cranbourne, I have lived here for eight years, but if my customers won’t come here then I’m not sure what will happen.”
Ms Rosevear plans to be in the front row at tonight’s (Thursday) public meeting, when Casey mayor Janet Halsall fronts angry Brookland Greens residents for the first time.
“It’s about time the mayor fronted up and faced the music. I want answers, not pieces of paper, and I suspect other locals feel the same,” she said.
“I don’t live in Brookland Greens, but I’ve definitely been affected by this mess. The residents living in the estate had their rates waived for a year, but there is nothing for the rest of us. And there is a good chance the value of my property will decline because of the methane crisis,” Ms Rosevear said.
In both a business and financial sense, Ms Rosevear can’t afford to leave her Taylor Street home.
But she regularly has council officers checking her property for methane gas readings.
In addition to the 29 families who have fled Brookland Greens, the Department of Human Services confirmed that 10 families from a neighbouring estate have also vacated their homes.
