Urgent restraining order filed against Swanbank plant after community complaints

The Department of Environment and Sciences has filed a restraint order application seeking to halt odour-producing activities at a notorious facility west of Brisbane. Here’s what it means.

The Department of Environment and Sciences (DES) has filed a restraint order application seeking to halt odour-producing activities at a notorious facility west of Brisbane until they can be fully contained.

If the application is successful, DES will be able to limit certain aspects of NuGrow Ipswich Pty Ltd’s operation, “including receiving highly odorous waste, that have a high potential to generate odour and impact the community,” a statement on the application said.

It comes less than 24 hours after DES hosted a community drop-in session at Redbank Plains on Thursday night, where residents shared their concerns with DES officers.

One lady told a DES officer that she feels as if the taxpayers’ money is being wasted.

“I think there should be a protest,” she said.

One couple said they brought their house and didn’t know about the odour issue until they moved in. Some members of the community called for government-supplied air purifiers for some homes, while others asked for the waste and recycling companies to be closed down until they can be fully contained.

Heat map difference between 2022 and 2023 odour complaints. Picture: DES

One week ago DES released the 2023 Swanbank Odour Complaints heat map, after publishing the 2022 version of the heat map just a month ago, showing a stark difference in where the complaints were coming from in just the span of a year.

In 2022, a total of 5947 complaints were received by DES, while 4421 complaints were received over the span of eight months just this year.

The majority of odour complaints in 2022 were centred around Collingwood Park, however in 2023 Ripley, Redbank Plains, Flinders View and Eastern Heights were hotspots for odour complaints. At the meeting, a lady living in Ipswich’s northern suburbs said, “don’t forget about us up here.”

Comments from people ranged from “it’s quite nasty” to just “unpleasant”’.

Two friends said they had been living in Raceview for over 20 years, with both stating they are concerned about the long-term health implications the odour could have.

“The smell is terrible. It smells like putrid. Like rotting green waste,” they said.

“Ipswich is becoming a dumping ground. Back to the old stigma of Ipswich, it’s a shame because it’s a really beautiful community and area here.”

Do you believe the odour has made an impact on your health? Contact [e-mail]