SUPER DUMP: What it means for Ipswich property prices

Prices under spotlight with possible establishment of a new landfill site.

A REAL estate expert says the establishment of a new super dump won't necessarily impact Ipswich property prices.

The chief executive officer of the state's leading organisation on real estate and property said perceptions and realities could differ when it comes to property values.

Ipswich residents held a public meeting on Saturday to discuss concern over an application to establish a new landfill facility at New Chum.

Some expressed fear their properties would decline in value.

But Real Estate Institute of Queensand CEO Antonia Mercorella said while perceptions could have a significant impact on property prices, the reality was often a different story.

QUESTIONS: First National Action Realty Ipswich owner Glenn Ball (left) says interstate investors often asked if a home was close to light industry or commercial operations. He is pictured with Steven Baldwin and Garth Llewellyn (centre). Picture: David Nielsen

"The facts can change those perceptions," Ms Mercorella said.

"A waste management facility doesn't necessarily mean home values will fall."

"Modern designs and the construction of waste management facilities have evolved to significantly minimise the impact on the surrounding community.

"Visually, these facilities are presented in a vastly more appropriate way than they have in the past.

"They are not the eyesore that they used to be decades ago."

Ms Mercorella said the Brisbane suburb of Rochedale had been home to a landfill site since 1993 and property prices had continued climbing at an impressive pace.

"The annual median house price in Rochedale is $915,000, which makes this suburb out of reach of most first-home buyers and would be classed as one of Brisbane's blue-chip suburbs," she said.

Ipswich real estate agency owner Glenn Ball, whose work does not focus on the suburbs surrounding the site such as Collingwood Park, Ripley and Bundamba, said if the dump goes ahead agents had a responsibility to tell potential buyers.

"That's something people would want to know and as an agent you should be disclosing that the home is within proximity to a dump," he said.

"It has to have some sort of impact on the surrounding property, that's just common sense."

Mr Ball said interstate investors did often ask whether a home was in close proximity to light industry or commercial operations that could impact of traffic.

He said investors asked key questions such as whether there were any undermining issues, any risk of flooding and local crime rates.

"If the dump does go ahead, (the impact on prices) will be a question asked of properties in the surrounding area," he said.

Austin BMI Pty Ltd has proposed to establish a new landfill facility at New Chum.

The company plans to use demolition and construction waste including waste that has been brought in from New South Wales, to fill a disused mining void.

The landfill would take 15.7 million cubic metres of waste over 18 years.

Originally published as SUPER DUMP: What it means for Ipswich property prices