“You just can’t escape.” At first glance, Kealba looks little different from other post-war Melbourne suburbs. Except it’s right beside a malodorous landfill site that’s on fire – and has been for years. | Special report
Anna Axiak says she cannot breathe normally without prevention and relief medication. The Kealba resident’s symptoms came as a shock – she had never been an asthma sufferer. Until, she says, the smell.
Residents are frustrated at what they describe as weak and delayed action by the EPA. Last week, the authorityafter issuing multiple regulatory notices to extinguish the fires and contain the odour. However, it acknowledged the hotspot would continue to burn for up to 18 months after the company disclosed its depth contradicted previous advice.
More than 10,000 odour and health complaints have been made since the hotspots were first detected, according to thereleased by the EPA in July 2022. The odour primarily impacts those living west of the landfill in Kealba and St Albans. They experience increased asthma symptoms, coughing and nausea, among other ill effects, according to the report.
Barro Group’s monthly reports from its western monitoring station, directly opposite residents’ houses, showed PM2.5 readings exceeded safe levels on nearly thirteen days per month from July 2020 to August 2022. It was poor on close to three days per month.
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