Gas leak reported six weeks ago at exploded Whalan housing complex, odour lingers at site

Authorities have returned to the scene of a building explosion in Sydney’s west with residents saying a gas odour can still be detected. It comes as it was revealed the complex had urgent work orders issued over gas leaks.

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Emergency crews have returned to the scene of a Western Sydney building explosion that killed a young woman after reports nearby residents could still smell gas.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews were at the Whalan scene on Tuesday morning to investigate reports of a gassy odour in the area.

Firefighters said they had not yet detected traces of flammable gas with their official gas readers but did confirm they could smell the odour in the air. 

Jasmin Mhey was visiting her mother’s unit on Waikanda Cres on Saturday afternoon when the top floor of the building suddenly exploded. 

Ms Mhey, also known as Mhey Yumol Jasmin, was found amid the rubble of the ruined townhouse at Whalan at about 3.20am on Monday, following more than 36 hours of painstaking searching by emergency services crews.

Emergency services at the Whalan property on Monday morning. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The blast could be heard as far as 40km away and left six people hospitalised, destroyed several surrounding units and damaged other nearby homes.

The area remained a crime scene on Tuesday with fire crews investigating whether the gas odour can be detected in the greater Whalan area.

Jasmin Mhey was visiting her mother at the time of the explosion. Picture: Instagram

Housing advocates raised fears over the condition of government-owned homes in NSW, following the fatal explosion.

Suspicions the explosion was caused by a gas leak have raised questions over the state of social housing, with the latest NSW Government figures showing that 8843 maintenance requests by tenants of government-owned homes remained unsolved as of March 2024.

Homes NSW, which owns and manages the social housing complex, wouldn’t answer questions regarding the number of gas leaks reported and repaired in government-owned homes.

But government documents show that from July 2023 to March 2024 there had been 20,865 urgent requests for maintenance received from Homes NSW tenants.

In the same period there was 200,568 requests for work.

The shortest response time for a maintenance request is two hours for a faulty smoke detector, while the longest is 20 days, for issues like broken clotheslines.

Emergency services on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan on Monday where debris from an explosion has been cleared out onto the street. A woman's body has been found. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

It’s understood the required fix time for a gas leak that is unable to be isolated is between four and eight hours, while isolated gas leaks are required to be repaired within 48 hours.

It comes as details emerge about previous gas issues at the complex, including a request for urgent repairs after residents smelt gas on April 24.

The incident was reported to Homes NSW as fixed.

The aftermath of the Whalan explosion. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

Premier Chris Minns conceded he had worries about the condition of social housing in NSW, and accused the previous government of neglecting maintenance on housing stock.

“I don’t want to prejudge the investigation into the circumstances relating to that explosion, but if you’re asking me more generally about the state of social housing … it’s a real concern,” he said.

“We haven’t kept up to date with basic maintenance on government (housing) … So we know we have to do more.”

Flowers left on Waikanda Cres in Whalan near where a woman's body has been found after an explosion ripped through a suburban townhouse in Sydney's west. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Housing advocacy groups agreed.

“There is a dire shortage of social housing in NSW and what’s there is often in poor condition. Too often, people are forced to choose between staying in rundown and unsafe accommodation or sleeping rough,” Homelessness NSW CEO Dom Rowe said.

Tenants’ Union of NSW CEO Leo Patterson Ross added “we don’t know the specifics of what happened here – but all renters should be able to feel safe in their homes”.

“Repairs and maintenance have been known to be an issue in public housing, as well as rental housing,” he said.

Fire and Rescue NSW on Monday afternoon handed the site to police as investigations continue into the cause of the blast.

Blacktown Police Area Command Superintendent Darren Newman on Monday morning said Ms Mhey’s body was found in what was believed to be the kitchen area of her mother’s social housing unit, adding that emergency workers had arrived to a “very confronting scene” in the wake of the explosion.

NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson, who visited the site on Monday, said temporary accommodation for residents was being arranged for anyone who needed it.

“I am deeply concerned to hear of accounts from residents who reportedly raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months,” Ms Jackson said.

Police Superintendent Darren Newman said Ms Mhey’s body was found in what was believed to be the kitchen of her mother’s social housing unit.