Results of further air quality testing the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is conducting in homes around Ball Rd, Heatherton, are continuing to show no risk to residents.
EPA began precautionary testing of homes identified as potential risks in the area earlier this week following the detection of slightly elevated levels of methane gas in three service industry pits around the closed Ball Road landfill last weekend.
EPA Regional Services Executive Director Damian Wells said 33 of about 50 homes identified for testing in the area had been tested by Thursday and all results had shown no risk to residents or their homes.
“EPA began its testing regime as a precautionary measure and the results indicate that residents can have full confidence in their living environment,” Mr Wells said.
“All residents have been given an overview of the home’s test results and our Authorised Officers were able to answer any questions they may have had. We also delivered letters and factsheets to those homes in the area that are not being tested.
“EPA is working with residents to ensure that all testing is completed as soon as possible.”
As part of EPA’s commitment to keep the community as up to date as possible, a community information meeting was held yesterday afternoon at which eight local residents attended.
Mr Wells said more homes would be tested over the day and a further round of testing on service industry pits and bores in the area would also be carried out.
“We will be holding another community information meeting Friday afternoon, from 4.30pm, on the corner Cavendish Drive and Maureen Court, Heatherton, and we encourage residents to drop by and hear the latest test results then.”
To ensure appropriate ongoing management of the gas source, EPA has issued the landowner with a remedial no tice to undertake increased monitoring of landfill gases. EPA is also investigating issuing another notice requiring the installation of further monitoring bores to more accurately delineate the movement of landfill gas.
The site was operated by the former Brighton City Council from 1966 to 1984.
The EPA Community information session will take place at:
- 4:30 – 5:15 pm, Friday, 29 May, 2015, corner of Cavendish Drive and Maureen Court, Heatherton
More information and Q&As are available on EPA’s website.
Residents with any concerns or who would like more information are encouraged to call EPA on 1300 372 842 or visit EPA’s website at: www.epa.vic.gov.au