‘Overwhelming’: Ipswich childcare centres plagued by stinky rubbish dumps

“I get sore, watery eyes, coughing, itchy skin,” said a resident given an air monitoring device to deal with the stench.

The stench of rubbish dumps across Ipswich has prompted schools and childcare centres to rely only on air quality monitoring devices.

Driven by four major waste facilities, there has been an increasing concern about the smell wafting through the city, which has plagued Queensland residents for years. 

Now some are saying the pollution is impacting their health and overall wellbeing. 

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The stench of the nearby rubbish dumps has prompted serious backlash. Source: 9News

Schools and residents given air monitoring devices following stinky suburb

In the last five years, there have been roughly 26,0000 complaints about the smell of the area, but have been arguing about the odour for as long as a decade, the Brisbane Times reported in May.

The effect of the stench has triggered more than just complaints of stinky air, it’s also affecting people’s physical health. 

“I get sore, watery eyes, coughing, itchy skin,” said resident Michelle to 9News.

Residents living near the four big tips have been issued with air monitoring devices, which are designed to observe the air quality of the surrounding areas.

“The idea is that you open the canister when the smell is at its worst,” said Jim Dodril from Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments. 

“If it wasn’t for our community action group, nothing would have ever been done about this.” 

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Residents have been kicking up a stink for years. Source: 9News

“The stench was overwhelming”

For nearby schools and childcare centres, all they’ve been offered are air monitoring devices as a temporary measure. 

So far, 10 centres and schools have received the devices, including Redbank Plains State High, Staines Memorial College, Fernbrooke State School, St Anne’s Catholic College, Ridley Valley State School and Augusta State School.

The childcare centres include C&K Ripley Childcare Centre, Kidz Magik - Edens Crossings, Amaze Ealry Education Centre and Guardian Childcare and Education Springfield. 

Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding confirmed she has been working to fix the solution, issuing another complaint on Friday after coming home.

“I came back from a night out, and the stench out where I live was overwhelming,” she said. “If I was the minister for the environment, I would be having a team of compliance officers in Swanbank 24/7 for the next three months.”

So far, Ipswich Council has splashed $8 million, taking the waste companies to court over issues with town planning and said other compliance issues should be directed to the Department of Environment. 

In March 2022, Cleanaway Solid Waste Pty Ltd was handed two notices by the Department of Environment and Science for the ongoing stench in the area.

It was actioned to reduce the smell and remove the water that was identified as the source of the foul stench, per 7News. They were later charged in March 2023 for wilfully causing an environmental nuisance.

Originally published as ‘Overwhelming’: Ipswich childcare centres plagued by stinky rubbish dumps