By Alesha Capone
DERRIMUT MP Telmo Languiller has called for a State Government investigation into foul odours, which have been bothering residents of the Brimbank Gardens estate in Derrimut.
In parliament, Mr Languiller appealed to Environment Minister Ryan Smith to launch a “comprehensive investigation of and report on complaints received by me, about the Brimbank Gardens estate in my electorate with a view to reaching a resolution”.
Mr Languiller quoted a resident of Sterling Drive in Derrimut, who has contacted him about the smells.
The resident said there was “a foul odour in the air around our area, which smells like a rubbish tip mixed with sewage” which was “actually very bad at times”.
The resident has contacted the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) over the unpleasant pong.
Mr Languiller said the EPA called his constituent back and suggested the odour could be coming from the Boral quarry area, impacting on both Brimbank Gardens and Caroline Springs.
When contacted by Star, an EPA spokesman confirmed there have been 26 calls to their Pollution Hotline in the last 12 months, from the area surrounding Boral Recyling’s licensed landfill at Ravenhall.
The spokesman said the EPA conducted a compliance visit to the site in May and asked Boral to “make improvements to landfill gas monitoring, leachate management and groundwater quality, which should improve the amenity for the local community”.
“EPA expects Boral to adhere to their licence conditions designed to prevent offensive odour from being discharged beyond its boundary. Penalties apply to licence breaches,” he said.
Mr Languiller told Star he has experience with similar odour issues in other parts of Brimbank.
“It becomes upsetting for families; it can be distressing and once you notice it, you notice it more every day and it starts to get on your nerves,” he said.
He said Boral was a “very good company” which provided jobs for many Brimbank residents, and he supported a solution which would help residents and industry co-exist.
Star contacted the office of the Environment Minister, but received no response.
Residents who experience bad odours can contact the EPA’s Pollution Hot Line on 1300 372 842.
