Kicking up a stink: Ipswich mayor slams government inactivity over residents’ claims of toxic smell

Fed up Ipswich residents claim they are plagued by foul odours making them sick, but the state government says there is nothing for the residents to worry about — despite images of locals plagued by large rashes emerging online.

Complaints began about 2013, with the suburbs of Swanbank and New Chum most affected by the odours, with the area home to landfill, composting and recycling facilities.

Lung cancer rates in adjoining Redbank Plains are almost 50 per cent above the national average but the state’s environment department says it has seen no indication of “any potential health concerns”.

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Tens of thousands of complaints have been submitted to the Queensland Government’s Odour Abatement Taskforce since 2018, with 6000 complaints this year alone.

However, the smells linger and Ipswich City Council mayor Teresa Harding has slammed the state government handling of the situation.

Images have emerged online of rashes allegedly caused by the toxic fumes Credit: 7NEWS

She said Ipswich City Council last year wrote to the health minister asking for a public inquiry but “they wrote back to us and refused”.

Facebook page Stop the Stink has more than 2000 members and has been advocating for change for years.

Despite the local push for better management, residents are still reporting health concerns, with images recently emerging online of rashes allegedly caused by the foul smells.

7NEWS spoke to local Ipswich resident Tracey Butler who said the smell had been making her “vomit” and “dry retch”, as well as cause her eyes and nose to sting.

Tracey’s husband Gary Butler says the smell is also impacts him and causes “severe migraines”.

Ipswich local Jim Dodrill previously told 7NEWS he suffered “shortness of breath” and “burning in the throat” from the toxic pollution.

“It’s making people sick physically, as well as making people sick and tired of being ignored by the state government,” he said.

Redbank Plains residents are allegedly diagnosed with lung cancer at 47 per cent above the Australian average as reported by the Australian Cancer Atlas.

Redbank Plains residents are allegedly diagnosed with lung cancer at 47 per cent above the Australian average as reported by the Australian Cancer Atlas.

Credit: Australian Cancer Atlas

No health concerns indicated

The Department of Environment and Science has offered residents canisters to capture the smell for data and research.

However, It has told 7NEWS “results to date have not indicated any potential health concerns”.

In 2021, it issued $13,345 in fines to Wood Mulching Industries for odour issues affecting Redbank Plains residents.

In the same year the Queensland government also ordered NuGrow recycling plant in Swanbank to stop taking liquid waste due to environmental obligations not being met.

And in March this year, Cleanaway Solid Waste Pty Ltd was charged by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) with a number of offences in relation to its New Chum facility, including wilfully causing an environmental nuisance.

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