Cleanaway working ‘seven days a week’ to address incessant stench at New Chum landfill site

The operators of an Ipswich waste facility which has reportedly triggered headaches, breathing problems, and nausea in nearby residents for more than a decade have said they are working “seven days a week” to mitigate their impact.

The operators of an Ipswich waste facility which has long been the subject of criticism from environmentalists, nearby residents, and the local council have said they are working “seven days a week” to address the flooding and odour issues at their New Chum site.

The Cleanaway “catastrophe” has reportedly impacted the city’s residents for more than a decade; triggering a range of negative health symptoms from respiratory irritation to headaches and nausea.

A spokesman for the waste management company said severe flooding in February and recent heavy rain hindered the company’s efforts to address concerns raised by Ipswich community members and councillors.

Cleanaway Executive General Manager of Solid Waste Services Tracey Boyes said her company was “doing everything possible to rectify the situation” at the New Chum site quickly and appropriately.

“Since the floods, the team has worked hard to treat the issues. We have installed several large-scale deodorises on site, and have been treating and removing impacted and excess water from the facility,” she said.

“We now have approximately 57 million litres of water on site that has to be removed. Before the heavy rain events over the past few weeks and the weekend, we had reduced that level to about 25 ML,” she said.

Ms Boyes said Cleanaway would continue to follow the Department of Environment and Science’s directions in relation to the issues.

Cleanaway Executive General Manager of Solid Waste Services Tracey Boyes. Picture: File

Ms Boyes’ comments come one week after Ipswich councillors unanimously agreed to have Mayor Teresa Harding write to Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath seeking state intervention in assessing the impacts of the ongoing stench.

The council also endorsed having CEO Sonia Cooper write to the Acting Director-General of Queensland Health requesting the Ipswich waste odour event be registered as an environmental health event.

The strong odour in question has reportedly caused nearby residents — particularly those in the Riverview — significant stress over the years, as well as pounding headaches, breathing problems, chest pains, nausea and vomiting, and sore eyes and throats.

Just last month, on April 10, residents of the local community rallied together and held a ‘Stop the Stink’ meeting, which was attended by Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon. She has since committed to an independent review into “nuisance provisions”.

A report tabled at the council’s last meeting on Thursday May 19 stated the review would however do “little to address the pressing concerns of the local community in regard to the negative health impacts of the odours and landfill sites”.

“Immediate intervention is required from the Queensland government to acknowledge this issue as an environmental health event and to seek its consideration in establishing a panel of inquiry to address the long-term health and environmental impacts of this event,” the report read.

A fire at Cleanaway's New Chum landfill site.

The report stated local residents were “understandably” concerned about the long-term health impacts of breathing in the odour over such an extended period of time.

“These odours are also having a significant and detrimental impact on their mental health and quality of life,” the report read

“Impacted residents cannot go outside their homes, keep doors and windows closed, cannot dry washing outside as it gets contaminated by the smell, and have reported pet birds dying as a result of the stench.”

Councillor Marnie Doyle said a formal inquiry would provide a level of “detail and transparency” that would hopefully provide some comfort to residents of Riverview and surrounding areas.

In the meantime, Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science has reported it will continue regular compliance inspections at the Cleanaway site.

A DES spokesman said the department has directed the private waste management company to “resolve the issue” as soon as possible and stop subjecting the local community to “environmental nuisance”.

“DES has issued Cleanaway two formal direction notices requiring that it: begin transferring excess water to offsite locations authorised to receive liquid waste to urgently reduce water levels to allow for further treatment to reduce odour; and continue treatment of water on site, including immediately taking steps to better distribute chemical treatments across the water body,” a DES spokesman said.

The spokesman said the department is conducting a thorough investigation into breaches of environmental law and whether further enforcement action — including possible prosecution — should be taken, which should be completed shortly.

Ipswich residents say an odour believed to be from Cleanaway’s New Chum site is causing them health issues.

He said there are a number of industries in the Swanbank Industrial Area that are likely sources of odour.

“DES has been actively monitoring these sites and has taken a range of enforcement actions against a number of operators,” he said.

“DES has been working with Queensland Health to monitor air quality around the Cleanaway New Chum site and broader area.

“To date, the levels measured have not exceeded the health standards.”

Mayor Teresa Harding acknowledged that odour concerns were being investigated by the Department of Environment and Science, but said extra action was needed to protect the community’s health.

“The stench is horrendous. It is extremely distressing and frustrating for the community and the regulator’s action on this matter has been welcomed by council,” she said.

“While DES is investigating the environment, Queensland Health should also investigate the impact this event is having on residents’ health and wellbeing.

“Any ongoing compliance action won’t be meaningful until the odour ceases, and the community are satisfied that their health has not been compromised.”

The state government’s odour abatement task-force has received more than 16,000 complaints in relation to odour, dust, and environmental issues in the Swanbank Industrial Area since it was established in 2018.