Which northern Gold Coast suburb has a distinct, earthy smell of urine; and what is causing it?

LOCALS in the Northern Gold Coast have complained about a distinct smell invading their suburb of an evening as the weather heats up. It has been likened to cat wee, chemicals, or even marijuana. So what is causing the unpleasant smell?

A strange, foul smell is bothering residents, including resident Rebekah Radley, on the northern Gold Coast, around Ormeau. Picture: Jerad Williams

STUMPED locals at Pimpama and Oxenford are pondering the cause of a mystery pong in the area.

The stench, which has been described as smelling like cat urine, chemicals or even cannabis, has plagued locals for months but has become more noticeable now with the warmer weather.

Locals have been pegging their noses and calling for action, but botanists and parks experts think the villains might be plants and micro-fingi.

Rebekah Radely, 42, from the Pimpama Rivers Estate, said she noticed a distinct smell of “urine” from the first night she moved into the area in January.

“The smell is worse in the mornings and evenings. I put vinaigrette on my lawn to mask it,” she said.

Ormeau resident Rebekah Radley wants to know the reason behind the strange smell in the suburb. Picture: Jerad Williams

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“I’m always spraying room spray, I have oil burners and candles on all the time and I don’t like to have guests over to my house because they notice it and I’ve been asked by guests what the awful smell is.”

Suzanne Flanagan, of Ormeau, said she had been forced to close her windows.

“It smells like a chemical from a factory. It has been happening a long time. Someone from the Environmental Protection Agency needs to come and sniff and monitor the evening smells,” she said.

The Gold Coast Botany Society believes a type of philodendron may be the culprit.

But David Jinks from the Gold Coast Botany Society shed some light on the possible smelly culprit.

“I know that at certain times of the year in the Pimpama and Oxenford area, there is a common garden plant, philodendron bipinnatifidum, which has a very pungent smell, more obvious at night,” he said.

“There are many native plants and their associated micro-fungi that emit vapours all the time, relative to conditions and time of day or year.

“Some plants emit strong vapours through the soil, particularly after rain.

“Mangroves are also well known for emitting a sulphur smell.”

A Gold Coast City Council arborist and parks expert said the smell could also be coming from the Viburnum plant.