DEVELOPERS of the controversial housing estate at the former Claypave site are facing investigations following complaints about persistent smoke inundating neighbouring homes.
Ebbw Vale resident Campbell Hile said a massive mound of mulch about 60m x 30m in size had been left smouldering for more than a month, filling homes throughout their neighbourhood with smoke.
“When the street lights come on at night you can see how thick the smoke is,” Mr Hile said.
“The smoke is all through the house and our workshop. It smells like a campfire inside.
“We keep everything locked up at night and keep the air-conditioning on to filter it through a bit.
“When the wind blows this way, you go outside and it is thick smoke. You can’t hang any washing outside. Even inside, you pull out some fresh clothes from the drawer and everything still smells like smoke.”
Bushland around the old Claypave site located at 2-21A Whitwood Rd and 31 Railway St, Ebbw Vale, has been cleared since developers moved on the 48.5ha site two years ago. Developers propose building 387 homes on the site, one commercial lot and office and a park.
A Department of the Environment spokesman said they were aware of the matter and were monitoring the property.
“We understand the owners have engaged with the Queensland Fire Department, and following their advice have wet the mulch pile and broken up the pile to enable coverage with earthen material to stop the smoke,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor their activities and will take enforcement action if necessary.”
Developers Queensland Property Group were approached for comment but did not respond.
Last year, residents rallied against the housing development, raising concerns in Local Ipswich News of secrecy around the proposal as the development application was submitted to Council.
Queensland Property Group project director Con Bassili told Local Ipswich News at the time that the development would transform the abandoned and unused site into a far better outcome for the community and provide new open space and parks within the project, and a neighbourhood centre.
“The alternative is that the site could still be operated as a mining and extraction operation under the existing mining leases, with minimal restrictions in very close proximity to the existing houses in Ebbw Vale,” Mr Bassili said.
