The City of Casey recently convened a meeting between SUEZ, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Council in response to significant community concern regarding odour issues alleged to be caused by the Hallam Road Landfill operation.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon convened the meeting between the landfill operators and the EPA to discuss the issues and solutions and to better understand the steps being undertaken to address the odour issues.
"Council was pleased to hear that both the EPA and SUEZ are taking this matter seriously and are taking action to ensure the issues regarding odour are addressed," said Cr Stapledon.
"As advocates for our community, we convened this meeting so we could further reiterate the community's and our concerns on this matter and ensure action was being taken to address them."
SUEZ Hallam Road Landfill is an EPA licenced site, and as such the EPA sets and enforces strict licence conditions and expects them to be adhered with to ensure public amenity.
EPA Southern Metropolitan Regional Manager Marleen Mathias said that the EPA is aware of increased odour pollution reports received from the community surrounding the SUEZ Hallam Road Landfill.
"EPA have been investigating these odour pollution reports, including undertaking odour surveillance in the Cranbourne North, Lynbrook and Hampton Park areas and conducting detailed onsite investigations at the landfill, with EPA landfill experts. EPA understands from these investigations that the source of the current odours being reported by local residents is landfill gas," she said.
"EPA have recently issued a Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN) to SUEZ, which requires them to conduct works on site, including the installation of more infrastructure to capture landfill gas. The works required in the PAN should address the sources of odour that EPA have identified at the site."
SUEZ Infrastructure Manager Andrew Carson said they have been carefully listening to the community's feedback and coordinated actions to address recent odour issues.
"Together with local contractors, SUEZ's Hallam Road Landfill has revised its planned projects, ensuring these matters are addressed," he said.
"From mid-July 2019, SUEZ has commenced a gas well drilling program and the connection of existing gas wells. These wells form a part of the process to convert landfill gas into electricity to deliver power to the grid. The gas is extracted under vacuum, minimising escape, therefore these actions will reduce the risk of odour to the community.
"We're also bringing forward the timeline for drilling works on the active landfill cell, which will allow for landfill gas to be extracted and processed in generators, mitigating immediate odour concerns.
"Towards the South of the site, Cell 10A is undergoing final capping to ensure the contents of the cell are contained.
"SUEZ would like to thank the local community for their ongoing cooperation during this process. By completing the capping and drilling works at the Hallam Road Landfill, together we're minimising our environmental impact and ensuring the best and safest outcome for the local area for the future.
"SUEZ Hallam Road Landfill would like to reaffirm and recognise our responsibility to provide the highest quality outcomes for our community, customers and the environment. We will continue to work with our Community Reference Group, EPA Victoria and the City of Casey to pursue opportunities for improvement."
