Parkside Early Learning Centre closed after Sunchem fire in Gympie

An intense and suspicious fire in the heart of Gympie has forced a neighbouring kindergarten to close its doors, and now residents say they are feeling sick.

Residents of a quiet Gympie neighbourhood have been rocked by an intense chemical blaze which destroyed the Sunchem factory on Tozer Park Road on Sunday, November 20.

‘Suspicious’ chemical fire under investigation

A kindergarten next door to Sunchem was told by emergency services immediately after the fire to close its doors until further notice, leaving multiple families stuck without childcare.

Parkside Early Learning Centre remained closed on Friday, five days later.

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Parkside Early Learning Centre is closed until further notice, following the fire at Sunchem on Sunday November 20. Picture: Supplied.

Parkside owner Andrew Riley said there was no determined reopening date yet.

“We’ve been closed since the incident and we will remain so until the experts advise it is safe to open up again,” Mr Riley said.

“Unfortunately, situations like this are out of our control but we are very thankful to our families for their support, trust and patience while we go through what is a very difficult time for our family business.

“The health and safety of our children, families and educators are our number one concern.”

Andrew Riley, owner of Parkside Early Learning Centre. Picture: Supplied.

Nearby homeowners have reported strong chemical smells from the fire site in the past week, particularly at night. Some also claim to have become increasingly unwell since the fire and to have observed o9n one occasion, the leave on plants curling up.

One homeowner said they were told by authorities to no longer eat bananas from their backyard tree.

Nan Hampson, who owns two properties adjacent to Sunchem, said she and her husband had both experienced significant chest infection-like symptoms since Sunday.

She said she had done multiple Covid tests and been to her doctor.

“We’re living like hermits,” she said.

“We’ve had nobody even come, not a soul.”

“The only reason we know a little bit of stuff is because we went out and asked.”

Ms Hampson also said she saw vapours coming out the building five days on.

Smoke billowing from the fire in Gympie on Sunday, November 20. Picture: Supplied by Gympie the real treasure is the town (Facebook).

Residents of the neighbourhood have been advised via a letterbox drop that asbestos removal works are being carried out on the destroyed factory.

One resident, who spoke to The Gympie Times on condition of anonymity, said she was frustrated with the lack of communication from authorities to local residents.

She said she had contacted people at all levels of government to find out how dangerous the air quality was near the fire site.

“There really hasn’t seemed to be much in the way of action happening at the actual site,” she said.

“It’s just really concerning.”

The resident said she was yet to receive any substantial response.

Some neighbours also reported people taking objects from the burnt building.

Gympie Regional Council is expected to release a statement of advice on the situation.

More to come.