Health fears

By Bridget Brady
ODOURS emitted from the tip near Cranbourne’s Brookland Greens estate have residents outraged, yet again.
They claim the putrid smell wafting over their homes from the Cemetery Road waste transfer station is making their lives a misery and affecting their health.
They believe the site operator, Consolidated Waste, is breaking regulations.
But Consolidated Waste’s managing director Paul Stocker has denied any elements of his permit are being broken.
He has invited residents to visit his site to see for themselves.
The Casey council owned Cranbourne Waste Transfer Station, accepts green and general waste.
Local resident Richard Handerek said he couldn’t open his window in the afternoon in case the wind changed direction and sent the smell through his home.
“We fear if the wind changes direction we’ll be breathing the stuff all night,” Mr Handerek said.
“It’s totally unacceptable.”
Mr Handerek’s wife, Maree, said she experienced sinus problems when she noticed the smell.
“We’ve had all the things with the (methane) gas and now we have another issue,” she said.” Enough is enough.”
The residents have the support of Casey councillor Geoff Ablett, who believes inappropriate practices are taking place at the transfer station and its closure should be considered.
“You cannot put an offensive stench into the atmosphere and expect people to put up with it year after year,” Cr Ablett said.
The council’s acting manager of waste Jorja Smith said some changes would be made to the transfer station this year.
Casey council conducted some air quality monitoring at the station, with the results to be presented at a future council meeting. Action has already been taken this year, with the western half of the site to close.
“Council is working closely with the EPA and the contractor of the site to ensure that the Cranbourne transfer station continues to perform an important function for the Casey community,” Ms Smith said. “It is currently the only facility in the municipality which is able to receive and pre-process garden waste to avoid it going to landfill.”
Resident Michael Selesnew said the council had put monetary benefits before the residents’ health concerns. “It all comes down to money and that’s the only argument they’ve got,” Mr Selesnew said.
Mr Stocker said: “The site is operating within its permit and conditions, and they are very strict conditions.”
The EPA fined Consolidated Waste almost $6000 last year for stockpiling waste that caused odour problems.
In September 2008 a number of residents in the Brookland Greens estate were evacuated with dangerous levels of methane gas-were recorded in the estate.