Stink stigma

By Bridget Brady
FOR Ed and Sylv Laing the release of the Ombudsman’s report last Thursday into the methane gas leak at Brookland Estate coincided with a methane reading of 11 per cent in their home.
The Brookland Greens residents also had a second reading of 7 per cent in their bathroom that day.
Mr Laing said he welcomed the Ombudsman’s report into the leaking methane gas from the landfill which resulted in the pair evacuating their home for three nights.
“I think the main cause of concern is this buffer zone that should not have been built on.”
Mr Laing said he would have liked to see VCAT held more accountable for its decision but that VCAT appeared to be “untouchable”.
The couple has lived at the estate for more than 18 months.
“We were very disappointed. We didn’t expect this to happen. This was going to be our retirement village,” Mr Laing said.
Another resident, Gordon Exner, said the findings in the report were what he expected.
While the Ombudsman’s investigation was over, Mr Exner said the stigma associated with the estate would linger.
“You hear all the sorts of names the people are now calling the estate… like methane park and Brookland Greens gas land.” Almost 600 residents in the estate are involved in a class action against the council.