Ipswich odour linked to serious respiratory and mental health issues, inquiry finds
Foul odours plaguing Ipswich residents for a decade have been linked to respiratory and mental health issues, a major health inquiry has found.
Foul odour wafting through Ipswich doesn’t cause cancer and is non-toxic but is contributing to respiratory, skin and mental health issues, a Public Health Inquiry reveals.
The inquiry into odour at Swanbank, undertaken by former chief health officer John Gerrard, reveals odours are non-toxic and don’t cause cancer.
The state government will force composting companies to enclose facilities by September 2026 or they will no longer be permitted to compost highly-odorous feedstocks.
Buffer zones between companies and residents will widen and air monitoring will increase.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said while Dr Gerrard’s inquiry revealed no evidence odour was toxic or cancer-causing, but said residents were still affected.
“Odorous chemicals in the air do not need to be at toxic levels to impact human health,” he said.
“The findings reveal what the people of Ipswich have known for many years.
“Odour from the industrial areas is highly offensive and is affecting the health and wellbeing of local residents. “
The report reveals the most common conditions attributed to the odour include respiratory, ear, nose, throat, neurological, skin, gastrointestinal and mental health.
Ripley, one of the state’s fastest-growing regions, and Redbank Plains were the two suburbs most affected.
Dr Gerrard attributes the odours to nearby industrial areas.
He notes landfill odours are more persistent and sulfurous, while composting odours are more transient, but can be strong if aeration and moisture levels are not controlled.
Ipswich residents have complained about foul odours for a decade, prompting the former Palaszczuk government to launch the Odour Abatement Taskforce.
Mr Nicholls said the government would accept all of Dr Gerrard’s recommendations.
Queensland Health launched a dedicated Swanbank hotline for people affected by odours, staffed by a registered nurse.
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