Methane mess settlement

THE Supreme Court of Victoria has approved a $23.5 million settlement against Casey Council and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) by Brookland Greens residents.
More than 750 property owners who were affected by methane gas leaks from the Stevensons Road Landfill will benefit from the settlement that was approved on Monday.
After a two and a half year battle, the City of Casey will be paying $13.5 million and the EPA $10 million to the affected residents.
When the approval was announced, lead plaintiffs Matthew and Theresa Wheelahan said they were pleased the matter has been resolved.
“The fight that we have had to get to this point has been long and at times frustrating,” Mr Wheelahan said.
“There have been many difficult times dealing with the landfill problem and the negotiation of the legal claims.
“For my wife and myself, the approval of the settlement is the final key to ending the uncertainty that we have lived with for the past two and a half years.”
Slater and Gordon litigation lawyer Manisha Blencowe said the approval represented a positive conclusion for the property owners.
“It has been over two and a half years since the gas leaks caused an emergency situation in Cranbourne and since the legal action started,” she said.
“The plaintiffs and group members have stuck together throughout a very stressful period and they can now put the uncertainty behind them.”
The residents will share about $17.25 million, with the remaining money going to legal costs.
The payout for each owner will range from $6000 to $130,000, depending on how badly affected they were.
Ms Blencowe said members of the class action could expect to receive their payment by the middle of July, with final payments in August.
Mr Wheelahan said the compensation would help them move on with their lives.
“We have had to contend with a lot for the last couple of years – odours, noise and a loss of privacy because of the gas problems and remediation works,” he said.
“The compensation will help us move on from the leaks. I think most owners in our neighbourhood are happy to finally be thinking about the future and not the past.
“We now look forward to returning to enjoying our home and neighbourhood again.”