Cleanaway execs get full bonus despite eye-watering stench at New Chum waste site

Executives at a Queensland rubbish dump have been awarded six-figure bonuses despite locals’ claims the landfill is behind a stench that is harmful to their health.

Executives of a beleaguered Ipswich rubbish dump have been awarded hefty six-figure bonuses partly for getting full marks on environmental performance, an outcome that has “gobsmacked” a Queensland Senator.

Desperate locals living near Cleanaway Waste Management Limited’s landfill site at 100 Chum St, in the Ipswich suburb of New Chum, have been complaining about the eye-watering stench from the dump for years, with the state’s department of environment and science stepping up investigations into odour concerns in April this year.

The latest annual report of publicly listed company Cleanaway revealed new chief executive, Mark Schubert, and three other key management staff received the full 10 per cent of potential bonus earnings linked to hitting environmental key performance indicators (KPI’s).

The report also stated the New Chum landfill would remained closed until the end of June 2023 as the company undertakes repairs following the recent floods.

Mr Schubert’s total bonus for the financial year was $970,902, while the three other personnel received bonuses ranging between $122,862 and $439,709.

Cleanaway’s dump in the Ipswich suburb of New Chum. Picture: Supplied

Senator Paul Scarr, in a speech in the upper house on Wednesday, said he was “gobsmacked” Cleanaway executives got the full portion of their bonus linked to environmental performance and that it was “a kick in the guts for each and every Ipswich resident who has been impacted”.

He said Cleanaway’s continued pursuit of an appeal against Ipswich City Council’s decision to refuse a development application to expand the New Chum site was “astounding”.

“Whatever the court may decide, Cleanaway has no social licence to expand its operations at New Chum. Absolutely none,” Senator Scarr said in his Senate speech.

“Their focus should be on remediation and rectification of the site causing the minimal impact to local residents.”

Senator Scarr also quoted former state Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller, who had called the New Chum issue a “health crisis” and an “environmental crisis”.

Cleanaway’s annual report confirmed the New Chum waste centre would be shut until at least the end of June 2023 while “extensive rectification work is completed”.

Queensland Liberal Senator Paul Scarr during his first speech to parliament. Picture: Gary Ramage

“The floods caused temporary off-site odour impacts from the facility, and we acknowledge the significant concerns that have been raised by the communities in close proximity to the New Chum landfill,” the report noted.

The company noted the “New Chum Community Reference Group” had been re-established as a way to discuss the issue with the community.

So far Cleanaway has spent $10.2m rectifying issues at the waste site, which was heavily impacted by the 2022 floods, and has set aside a further $28.6 million “to bring the New Chum landfill back into compliance has been made”.

A Cleanaway spokesman said the flooding that affected the empty landfill cell at the New Chum site in February was the same flooding that affected thousands of homes and businesses in South East Queensland.

“We have apologised to the community for the nuisance that the resulting odour caused,” she said.

“Cleanaway worked hard with the authorities and the community to react safely and effectively and the water and odour have now been removed, and mitigations have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.

“Regulators and Cleanaway monitor air quality around the site and community and have confirmed – notwithstanding the nuisance caused by the odour – that all readings have remained within health guidelines.”