Peet syndicate drawn into gas dispute

The waste management firm at the centre of a class action dispute over a methane gas leak at a Victorian housing estate is attempting to point the finger at the syndicate which owns the estate.

Peet released a statement today which said SITA Environmental Solutions had joined the Peet & Co Casey Land Syndicate and six other parties in court proceedings being taken against the City of Casey by residents of Brookland Greens Estate, in Cranbourne, Victoria.

"Both Peet and the syndicate consider any potential claim against the syndicate ill-founded and, if any claim were to be pursued, it would be strenuously defended," the statement said.

"Any potential claim against the syndicate would only become relevant if it was found to be liable in any way.

"It is now up to the plaintiff's lawyers, Slater and Gordon, to decide whether any claim will actually be pursued against the newly added defendants, including the syndicate."

The class action alleged the City of Casey failed to accept the risk posed by methane gas emissions from a disused landfill site adjoining the estate.

About 30 families were evacuated from the estate in September 2008 after being told by authorities methane gas drifting into their homes could explode.

Court action commenced in late 2008, when a group of residents represented by Slater & Gordon took action against the council.

The council then joined its manager of the landfill site, SITA, and various other parties as co-defendants, and a total of 12 parties have been joined ahead of mediation next month.

Peet managing director Brendan Gore said SITA's move to join the syndicate was totally unfounded and any potential claim had no basis.

"The residential community at Brookland Greens was established in line with all the relevant approvals and any claim against the syndicate is a distraction from the main issue - the proper mitigation and management of the disused landfill site," Mr Gore said.

"On behalf of the syndicate, we look forward to this matter being swiftly and sensibly resolved."

Brookland Greens Estate is an established community in Cranbourne, located some 45 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.

Peet began developing the property in 1999 and today the estate is home to more than 650 households.