THE Swanbank Public Health Inquiry has found that persistent stench negatively impacts the health and wellbeing of thousands of surrounding Ipswich residents.
The Inquiry found no evidence the odours were toxic or a cancer risk.
About 500 people made submissions to the Inquiry, with health complaints including nausea, headaches, coughing and wheezing, skin irritations, sleep disturbances and stress.
Former Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard, who led the inquiry Dr John Gerrard said the Inquiry showed that although not toxic, the foul smell coming from the industrial areas was having a negative impact on the daily lives of thousands of Ipswich residents.
“We found that odorous chemicals in the air don’t need to be at toxic levels to affect people’s health,” he said.
“The human health issues aside, we also found that the smell had social impacts, with residents reducing the time they spent outdoors, being reluctant to host visitors, and worrying about the reputation of their community.”
The Inquiry’s recommendations include:
- providing some immediate relief to the community from the most offensive odours from composters;
- considering options for providing long-term relief from highly offensive odours, either through the construction of enclosed composting operations or relocating composters to a new location;
- applying the above recommendations to other commercial composting sites in Ipswich;
- auditing all remaining odour-producing companies and developing an overarching odour management plan for the industrial areas;
- expanding the air monitoring program to more accurately assess community health impacts;
- prohibiting future residential developments from encroaching within buffer distances for the industrial areas;
- leveraging existing laws and considering legislative improvements to better manage odours; and
- establishing an inter-departmental committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said a dedicated committee would be established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and there would be ongoing consultation and engagement with the community and the industry.
He said the Government’s response to the recommendations would prioritise the health and wellbeing of Ipswich residents.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the Government was taking compliance seriously.
“We will, through the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, continue to enforce a court-ordered restraint and stricter license conditions to provide a long-term transition to best practice odour management,” Mr Powell said.
“There has been a 70 per cent reduction in community odour complaints over the past year, and the number of odour complaints in 2025 is the lowest in seven years, which demonstrates great progress towards relief for the local community.
“We are committed to continuing that momentum.”
