Residents of smelly suburb report ‘putrid horrendous manure chemical smell’ causing illness

Thousands of Australians claim they have been getting seriously ill from “putrid horrendous manure chemical smells” from an industrial area.

An odour akin to a grotesque combination of sewage, rotten eggs and fertiliser has for years been wafting into homes of Australia’s smelliest suburb, causing vomiting, headaches, rashes and even breathing problems.

Thousands of residents – many reduced to trapping themselves indoors – have recently bolstered their efforts to have the stench emitted from the Swanbank Industrial Area, in Queensland’s Ipswich, brought under control.

More than 6000 complaints have been received by the Department of Environment and Science since January, while almost 25,000 have been received since 2018.

Community members from areas surrounding the industrial park have grown more furious as time has worn on. They claim authorities have failed to take action against the perpetrators of the stench.

Residents have reported experiencing serious illness as a result of the smells, with those living in adjacent areas also being diagnosed with lung cancer at rates 47 per cent above the Australian average, according to the Australian Cancer Atlas.

Thousands living in Ipswich claim toxic smells have made them sick. Picture: Facebook

In a petition calling for immediate action, a local said the community was suffering from “dry retching, vomiting, headaches, stinging lips after vomiting, irritated eyes and noses, sneezing, unknown rashes on humans and our pets, coughing, mental stress and depression”.

Many had to keep their windows and doors closed “all the time” because of the smell and the dust, which was “out of control”.

“All children are walking to schools and kindies in this putrid, horrendous, manure toxic composting air, which is of great concern,” the petition stated.

“We need these industrial recycling industries to be accountable for odour emissions against the residents and workers who work in the areas and also people who own businesses.”

A Facebook group populated by more than 2000 disgruntled locals frequently updates fellow sufferers on the daily severity of stench levels.

Locals say they suffer from vomiting, headaches, rashes and breathing problems. Picture: Facebook

“Can someone tell me if it stinks in Redbank Plains as I am sick and can’t smell today and I don’t want to open windows if it stinks as my husband gave me his bad cold,” one desperate local wrote to the group recently.

“Yeah it smells like a porta potty again,” someone promptly responded.

Similar dialogue has become far too common, with many also reporting discussions held with their doctors regarding the impact of the persistent smell on their health.

“Chicken and cow manure odours this morning, already had head down the toilet,” a local reported to the group last week.

“Odour is a disgusting putrid horrendous manure chemical smell in Eden’s Crossing Redbank Plains,” another wrote.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesperson described the odour problem as “complex” in a statement provided to news.com.au on Tuesday.

“We have been actively investigating odour nuisance reports received from community members in and around the Swanbank industrial area. Information provided in community reports is used to guide department activities,” they said.

“Resolving odour issues in the Swanbank area is complex, especially where residential areas are located close to industrial areas that are generating odour.

More than 2000 people have signed a petition calling on immediate action. Picture: Facebook

“Investigations in suburbs affected by odours along with information from community reports and weather monitoring technology, helped identify that composting facilities located in the Swanbank industrial area are most likely contributing to the odours.

“Businesses involved in these activities are licenced by the department. They must comply with their environmental obligations and not cause unlawful harm to the environment or impact on the community.”

The department said it had deployed officers to assess the problem sites to determine if they were operating in compliance with their licences.

“We are reviewing information gathered from these inspections. The results of scientific analysis of water, waste and compost product samples will determine potential enforcement action for any noncompliance,” they said.

Residents would continue to receive air sampling canisters to allow them to monitor for potential health hazards.

“Results to date have not indicated any potential health concerns. We continue to work with Queensland Health in this regard,” the department spokeswoman said.

“Our compliance officers will continue to focus on waste activities in the Swanbank industrial area. As the environmental regulator, DES takes environmental offences seriously and will continue to take strong enforcement action, including court action, in relation to contraventions of the Environmental Protection Act.”

WMI Composting Facility, Nugrow Composting Facility and Lantrak Landfill have been contacted by news.com.au for comment.

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