By Belinda Nolan
Brimbank Council has launched an investigation into two former landfills in the municipality, amid fears they could be contaminated.
Last month Star reported that homes along Denton Ave backed onto Carrington Drive Reserve, a former basalt quarry and landfill that is being investigated for landfill gases and groundwater contamination.
But residents now say they believe their properties may have been built on top of the landfill.
The startling revelations emerged during a community meeting the council held last week to inform residents about the environmental investigations.
Homeowner Clive Johnson said his family had been living in Denton Ave for the past 20 years and had learned they were living on a former tip when digging footings for a garage.
“There’s been a lot of talk about homes bordering the landfill but we were actually told that its borders went onto our land,” Mr Johnson said.
Another resident who did not wish to be named said she had blueprints which proved that the landfill also extended under her home.
Paul Younis, the council’s general manager of infrastructure and environment confirmed that the landfill did encroach on residents’ homes.
“I fully suspect that it does but we don’t know to what extent,” Mr Younis said.
Residents also feared the investigations could devalue their properties and discourage people from buying homes in the vicinity.
The council will drill 12 bores in and around the landfills, with around four being installed in Denton Ave.
But the EPA has revealed that more bores could be drilled in the future if they are needed.
Around a dozen residents attended the community meeting, which was held at the Cairnlea Community Hub on Thursday.
Mr Younis said the council expected to see the first results from the investigations around June or July.
For further information contact Phil Josipovic on 9249 4910 or philj@brimbank.vic.gov.au.
