Peet Limited is deeply concerned about the possible threat posed to residents of its Brookland Greens estate by the City of Casey's former landfill site and the manner in which the situation has escalated in the last 48 hours.

Peet has been advocating on behalf of residents for approximately two years, urging Council to improve the management of the site to eliminate the risk of gas leaching from the site.

Peet has also passed onto potentially affected purchasers and prospective purchasers at Brookland Greens Estate, information from Council relating to management issues with the landfill site.

Clearly, since the development was first established in 1999, Peet and purchasers have been aware that the estate neighbours the Council's landfill site.  However, the gas emissions and environmental management issues have only come to light over the past two years.

In that time, Peet has relied on information and assurances provided by Council.  In turn, it has encouraged residents and purchasers to seek the latest and most accurate information directly from Council officers. 

Peet is aware that the Council has distributed letters to residents of Brookland Greens and held community meetings in July 2006, March 2007 and now in September 2008, in relation to its management of the landfill site and related gas emission issues.

Peet has also been alerting potentially affected purchasers and prospective purchasers to the site and related issues, and passing on information from the Council. From March 2007, for example, a letter from Cr Colin Butler, Mayor of the City of Casey was included in sales contracts. 

That letter informed purchasers of management measures employed to date, consultants who had been engaged by the council to monitor and mitigate any risks and monitor any future actions to be undertaken.

"Monitoring equipment used during the restoration works has detected that the site is now developing greater amounts of gas than anticipated and has also detected small pockets of gas off-site.  These gases may present a risk to nearby residents only when they accumulate in an enclosed, poorly ventilated space such as an outside toilet, basement or deep excavation. 

"Therefore, Council has decided to take immediate action to address the possibility of gas escaping from the site," Mayor Colin Butler's letter went on to say.

As recently as July 2008, it was reported that 100 homes in the estate were tested by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the City of Casey for gas levels and given the all clear.

The EPA also underlines the Council's responsibility in the information provided on its website which says "As the owner of the former landfill, the City of Casey is responsible for the ongoing management of the site. This includes preventing any substance leaving the site including gas and leachate."

Before Peet commenced construction at Brookland Greens, the City of Casey approved the development except that it opposed development of the area of the estate bordering the landfill site.  That opposition was over-ruled by the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal in September 2004.

Peet has called for an urgent meeting with the City of Casey and is seeking full information about the gas threat.