MP seeks gas probe

A LIBERAL MP has called for an independent panel to look into the State Government’s response to the Ombudsman’s report on the Brookland Greens methane mess.
South Eastern Metropolitan MP Inga Peulich presented a notice of motion to parliament on Monday and the matter is due to be discussed this week.
Ms Puelich called on Premier John Brumby to appoint a panel of experts, chaired by a retired judge, to provide an independent oversight into the government’s response to the report and also the implementation of the response.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was strongly criticised in the report released last month, with Ombudsman George Breuwer saying the authority missed several warning signs at the Stevensons Road landfill and opportunities to improve.
The EPA has acknowledged it could have done things better, and accepted the recommendations in the report.
In her notice of motion, Ms Peulich said the report listed a host of failures in governance, policy, bureaucratic bungling, mismanagement and blame-shifting.
Residents evacuated their homes in the Brookland Greens estate after explosive levels of methane gas were found in some homes in September last year.
Casey council was also criticised in the report and mayor Geoff Ablett has called on the State Government to chip in $35.6 million to help ease part of the “enormous financial burden” he said the council and ratepayers faced.
About 600 residents have now joined a class action with Slater and Gordon against the City of Casey Council. The Ombudsman said residents deserved to be compensated.