Sydney site 'significantly contaminated' as gas emissions detected
Man charged with murder following the death of a woman in Sydney's Inner West
A former landfill in Sydney's Inner West has been declared "significantly contaminated" after it was found to be releasing gases.
The site at St Peters operated as a landfill for 26 years until it was shut in 2014 and acquired the following year to make way for an interchange to the M8 and M4-M8 link tunnels.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority has detected elevated levels of methane and carbon dioxide at the site, believed to be from years of waste decomposition.
The contamination declaration was made today, allowing authorities to create a long-term plan for the site, investigate the gas emissions and do remediation works.
"There are safeguards already in place across the site, including a network of gas monitoring points and gas collection systems," NSW EPA executive director operations Jason Gordon said.
"The declaration will now allow for consistent, long-term regulation of the site and ensure the community's safety and well-being is protected."
In the meantime, residents have been told the gases pose a low risk to the public.
"I want to assure the community that the risk of methane emissions in open spaces is low, and drivers and pedestrians using the site should not be concerned," Gordon said.
"Landfill gas dissipates quickly in open space so there is no impact on residents in the surrounding suburb and open space users.
"Tunnel entrances are also well-ventilated and the risk of exposure for drivers is very low."
Methane and carbon dioxide emissions at landfills have previously been highlighted as a focus for Sydney City Council, which earlier this month began a new initiative to combat the problem.
The trial will use maggots to consume and convert food waste, which make up one-third of rubbish at landfills that decomposes and turns into methane.
Anyone concerned or wanting more information about landfill gas risks has been urged to contact the Environment Line on 131 555.