By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
MAYBE this is something of a sweet solution for long-suffering residents who had endured a frequent stench from Lynbrook’s tip in Hallam Road.
A new acreage of open space called Kingsfield-Elliot Park has been created in a recently built housing estate within whiffing distance of the SITA-operated landfill.
The park was paid for by SITA as part of an enforceable undertaking negotiated with Environment Protection Authority Victoria because of foul odours escaping from a cell at the tip.
As part of that undertaking, SITA had agreed to close and cap the offending cell and donate $100,000 to environmental activities in the locale, including another project at River Gum Creek Reserve, Hampton Park.
The City of Casey designed park at the junction of Kingsfield Crescent and Elliot Parade has been greened up with mature trees and protected by roadside bollards.
The site was previously unkempt and, apart from being an informal neighbourhood car park, was largely disused.
EPA chairwoman Cheryl Batagol said the undertaking, which included community consultation at a restorative justice conference, would “change the way we work with industry and the community forever”.
“To hear from the community about the impact of the SITA landfill on their lives… we felt an empathy towards them.”
She said SITA had faced prosecution but had since made “operational improvements” that curtailed the odours.
She urged residents to continue to use EPA’s hotline to report issues.
“I’d like to thank this local community.
“They have been fantastic in speaking up and being environmental citizens.”
EPA southern metro manager Leigh Bryant said complaints about the landfill had dissipated from a monthly peak of 250 to about 10.
SITA infrastructure manager Mark Globan said the projects showed the company was “committed to the community”.
He said the stench was caused by the landfill cell taking longer to fill than anticipated – about three years – and a long drought slowing the contents’ degradation.
Since then, SITA has opened a new active landfill cell further east from neighbouring homes.
It uses improved technology such as horizontal gas wells and liners.
