Palaszczuk Government to tackle Swanbank nuisance odour

The Palaszczuk Government will stop industries in Swanbank from taking on noxious rubbish that produces offensive odours for the residential areas nearby.

Environment Minister Steven Miles announced that EHP will commission an independent consultant to scientifically review the Environmental Authority (EA) waste acceptance criteria for composting operations.

“We’ve listened to residents in Swanbank and we’ve found a way to address their concerns. No one wants to live next to industries that stink.

“The Environment Department has been working closely with the Ipswich City Council to identify which companies were responsible for the odour but it’s been difficult because there’s so many possibilities in that industrial complex.

“I’ve been out to Ipswich, spoken with residents and met with council to find a solution. Trying to give orders or fines to the companies after the fact was not working so we’ve found a way to stop the problem at its source.

“Some materials that are currently accepted by industry for composting produce more odour than others,” Mr Miles said.

“The independent review will look at the materials the Swanbank industries currently accept for composting, and determine whether any changes may be required.

“This review process will also be used to ensure that waste acceptance criteria imposed within EAs is adequate to protect surrounding communities from nuisance odours.”

The Environment Minister said a community survey would be undertaken in partnership with Ipswich City Council to listen to residents’ concerns over nuisance odour emissions.

“There will be proactive engagement with thousands of people living in the suburbs around Swanbank within the coming months,” Mr Miles said.

“This survey will hear directly from residents impacted by nuisance odour and collect data to assist the environmental regulator to improve its targeted odour monitoring program.

“We know that people living in Ripley, Raceview and Flinders View have reported odours in the Swanbank area for a number of years, particularly in warmer months.

“Ripley in particular is experiencing rapid residential growth due to its status as Priority Development Area (PDA) meaning there is a growing need to reinforce sound planning to protect buffers around odorous industries.

“To date, given the complexity of the issue, both the environmental regulator in the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) and Ipswich City Council have had difficulty either detecting offensive odours, or definitively attributing them to a specific source.

“This impacts on their ability to take enforcement and compliance action when odour reports from the community are received.

“But rather than sit back and wait for the community to make odour reports to the EHP Pollution Hotline, we want to continue to take a proactive stance.”

ENDS

Media contact: Alison Brown - 0477 377 622