Residents in a community left reeling after a townhouse explosion killed a trainee nurse have claimed the neighbourhood had smelled of gas for years.
The explosion occurred on the second level of a government-owned seniors' housing complex on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, in Sydney's west, at about 1pm on June 1.
The blast killed 30-year-old trainee nurse Mhey Yumol Jasmin who was visiting her mother, Mercy, at the time of the explosion.
Her body was found two days later in what was believed to be the kitchen area of her mother's unit.
It has been revealed that tenants complained to the Department of Housing about the smell of gas twice in the last 12 months, most recently in April.
The explosion occurred on the second level of a government-owned seniors' housing complex on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, in Sydney 's west, and reduced the townhouse to rubble
The blast killed 30-year-old trainee nurse Mhey Yumol Jasmin who was visiting her mother, Mercy, at the time of the explosion
The department claims that on both occasions contractors were sent out to the home immediately and fixed broken gas meters.
In November, a resident reported smelling gas with the provider attending the property and fixing a broken meter.
Five months later, a tenant again reported smelling gas and a maintenance company responded to an 'urgent work order'.
Residents of Aitape Crescent, Whalan,just a few hundred metres from the destroyed townhouse, said they were living in fear after the deadly blast.
Local woman Talia, who lives around the corner from the housing complex with her young family, explained she has banned her toddler Lincoln from playing outside.
Talia explained the smell of gas is 'bad' and is something she notices every time she walks outside her home.
After the explosion, the concerned mum received a text message from NSW Housing asking locals to report gas leaks.
'It's literally taken for a house explosion to happen for them to do something about the gas leaks around,' Talia told A Current Affair.
'It could be that it's like no one cares about Mt Druitt because they all think everyone is a bum, but in reality not everyone's a bum.'
Talia (right), who lives with her young family just a few hundred metres from the townhouse, was concerned it took a fatal explosion for action to be taken
Tanya (pictured), who also lives in the area with her family, described the smell of gas as 'pungent' and that she had noticed it in the neighbourhood for about six years
Tanya, who also lives in the area with her family, described the smell of gas as 'pungent' and that she had noticed it in the neighbourhood for about six years.
Tanya has previously complained about the smell but claimed the lack of response to residents' concerns was 'typical'.
'Typical housos around here, so nothing gets done,' Tanya said.
Local resident and father Jake said he has smelled gas everyday since he moved into the suburb nine months ago.
Jake added his biggest concern was for the families who live in the area and the children that play outside.
'Definitely don't want another house to go bang, especially with all the kids and stuff.
'They've got kids, we've got kids, kids coming over on the weekend and everything ... so something's definitely gotta be done about it.'
NSW Housing MinisterRose Jackson said it was ' completely unacceptable' for residents to be living in fear following the townhouse explosion.
Ms Jackson said she was 'deeply concerned' to learn residents had complained about the smell of gas and has instructed Homes NSW to investigate the matter.
'I know that Homes NSW prioritises the safety of its residents at all times and has arranged for the maintenance contractor... to investigate with urgency,' Ms Jackson wrote in a statement.
'The Department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this. Our priority is for this search to be thorough and we will have more to say in the coming days.'
Ms Jackson urged residents with maintenance requests including those related to gas, to immediately contact the maintenance line on 1800 422 322.
She added temporary accommodation was being arranged for residents requiring relocation, with Homes NSW also developing a plan to move locals to long-term or permanent housing.
Relocation costs including packing, moving and unpacking will also be provided, with residents also given the option to return once reconstruction is complete.
Whalan resident and father Jake (pictured) said his biggest concern was for the children who play outside accompanied by the smell of gas every day
Tenants at the housing complex had complained to the Department of Housing about the smell of gas twice in the last 12 months prior to the blast
Homes NSW said reports about gas logged with its maintenance line were being investigated and a contractor attended the area on Tuesday to assess the matter.
'In the wake of the events at Whalan, we acknowledge that this is incredibly distressing for all residents,' Homes NSW said in a statement.
'We know that there have been flaws in how maintenance has been addressed in the past and it's our job to fix that, for now and into the future and that's why we're overhauling the current system to ensure a better outcome for our residents.'
Homes NSW is currently compiling a list of the work requests made for the social housing building over the last five years.
Rescue efforts following the explosion were hampered due to a gas leak, with investigators to probe whether any leak played a role in the blast.
The massive explosion was heard streets away and shattered the glass of neighbouring buildings. Five other people were rushed to hospital.
Another 12 people from surrounding houses were evacuated, with houses and apartment buildings damaged.
Police Superintendent Trent King said the majority of tenants involved in the explosion had been under state care.
Ms Mhey's distraught mother, Mercy, who had kept a vigil across the street with a close eye on the search effort, told neighbours she had reported the smell of gas in the building and in the street in recent months.
Homes NSW said reports about the smell of gas logged with its maintenance line were being investigated
Pictured, floral tributes laid at the scene of the June 1 explosion in Western Sydney
Mercy had left the property momentarily and when she returned, found the building completely destroyed and her daughter missing.
Her daughter's bodywas discovered in the kitchen after cranes were used to remove heavy concrete slabs.
Rescuers were then lifted into the home in a metal cage and used drills and cameras to look for voids and air pockets in the rubble.
Ms Mhey, who was training to be a nurse, was discovered underneath the rubble by search teams.
Detective Superintendent Darren Newman saidofficers broke the heartbreaking news to Ms Mhey's mother soon after emergency services made the tragic discovery.
'As you can imagine, mum is devastated,' Supt Newman said.
We will continue to provide the family with support through our family liaison network, and just making sure that she is looked after as best as we possibly can.'
