EPA accepts report

THE EPA has acknowledged it could have done things better in relation to the Stevensons Road landfill.
It has accepted all of the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s report into the Brookland Greens fiasco.
The EPA was criticised for not improving the standard of the landfill at Cranbourne.
The Ombudsman said the EPA should have demonstrated “courage” in its role as the authority responsible for protecting the environment.
“In my view, there were many occasion where the EPA had sufficient grounds to take enforcement action at the landfill but it failed to do so or it utilised inappropriate enforcement measures,” the Ombudsman said.
EPA Victoria acting chief executive Terry A’Hearn last week said the report was important for the EPA.
“We accept all of the recommendations.
“We have already, or are in the process of, implementing two-thirds of those relevant to EPA with the remainder to be complete by June 2010,” Mr A’Hearn said.
“The City of Casey has a responsibility to comply with the law and manage their site.
“We require council to eliminate risk for residents from migrating landfill gas.”
Mr A’Hearn said the EPA was satisfied with the way it had responded to the gas leak and its involvement in the emergency response.