Swanbank Archives - Springfield Lakes

Public Health Inquiry Launched to Address Odour Concerns in Ipswich

Ipswich residents have long raised concerns about odours emanating from industrial sites in Swanbank and New Chum. These odours have sparked health worries in the community, leading to a six-month Public Health Inquiry designed to address these issues.

Read: New Regulations Target Odour Issues at Swanbank and New Chum

The Inquiry will include extensive public consultation, giving locals an opportunity to share their experiences and the impacts the odours have had on their daily lives. Residents of Ipswich have been dealing with ongoing health problems that they strongly attribute to waste odors. These issues include rashes, headaches, respiratory problems, chest pain, sore throats and eyes, and nausea.

Dr John Gerrard (Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/JohnGregoryGerrard/Wikimedia Commons)

An expert panel, led by former Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard, will oversee the process, investigating the potential health effects of the noxious smells.

“This Inquiry will document any health impacts resulting from the waste and composting facilities at Swanbank odours, the impact they’re having on the community, and aims to identify the solutions to present to the government,” Dr Gerrard said.

Stop the Stink, a local group advocating for change, has welcomed the news. The group has been vocal about the need for action, emphasising the importance of expanding the Inquiry’s scope to include odour issues across the entire Ipswich region.

Public Health Inquiry — Photo credit: Department of Environment

The Department of Environment recently prosecuted operators linked to the odours and reported significant progress in holding them accountable. The department has also outlined measures to improve air quality, including the possibility of amending environmental authority for operators near residential zones if they fail to control odours effectively.

Read: Ipswich Residents Near Swanbank Industrial Area Asked to Report Odour Issues

The Inquiry’s findings, including recommendations for addressing the issues, are set to be released in mid-2025. For Ipswich locals, this is seen as a crucial step toward resolving an issue that has affected their quality of life for years. Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultations and share their stories to ensure their voices are heard.

Published 13-January-2025

New Regulations Target Odour Issues at Swanbank and New Chum

In response to ongoing concerns about odours, new regulations have been announced to ensure that composting facilities near residential areas, particularly around Swanbank and New Chum, implement stricter measures to lessen their impact on the environment.

Required New Methods

As of August 2024, changes have been implemented to address the ongoing odour issues in Swanbank and New Chum, significantly affecting the quality of life for many Ipswich residents.

Following widespread community and local government support, regulations have been introduced requiring that all new and expanding compost facilities within four kilometres of residential areas, which handle odorous waste, adopt in-vessel or enclosed processing methods. These methods are recognised for effectively reducing nuisance odours.

Swanbank Odour Issues — *Photo Credit: DESI*

Community and Environmental Impact

These changes come after numerous reports from residents about the adverse effects of odour from the composting sites at Swanbank and New Chum.

“The new regulations will ensure that only those facilities that meet stringent environmental standards receive odorous waste, thus protecting our communities,” stated Charis Mullen (M for Jordan). More than 93% of community feedback supported these stronger regulations during the recent consultation phase.

The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) has been actively investigating these complaints, noting that odour issues are especially prevalent during warmer months when rainfall and temperatures rise.

“The legislative changes also give the environmental regulator more authority to update the conditions for existing composting facilities on a case-by-case basis and ensure that transporters are compliant with these new standards,” added Mullen.

The DESI expressed gratitude to the community for their ongoing efforts in reporting odour issues and participating in the consultation process, highlighting how critical public input has been to shaping these regulatory changes. With the implementation of these regulations, there is a concerted effort to significantly reduce the impact of these facilities on nearby residents.

Community Skepticism Amid Regulatory Changes

Despite the introduction of new regulations to tackle odour issues, some Ipswich residents remain skeptical. Having dealt with unpleasant smells for years, they question the timing and sincerity of these changes, noting they often coincide with upcoming elections. Jim Dodrill, spokesperson for the Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments (IRATE), expressed concerns about the consistency in following through on its promises.

The relationship between the residents and local authorities has been strained, particularly after plans were revealed in 2019 to approve a new waste dump in Swanbank despite numerous complaints. The dissatisfaction contributed to significant shifts in the area, with changes in local and state seats influenced by public unrest over waste management practices.

With inspections up by 40 percent since last year and tripling enforcement notices, there is a clear intent to enforce these regulations strictly. However, residents like Dodrill remain cautious, labeling the compliance officers as overly business-friendly.

Published 8-Aug-2024

Construction of Multi-Beverage Manufacturing Facility in Swanbank Well Underway

Construction of the $400 million multi-beverage manufacturing facility in Swanbank is well underway and on track for its opening in mid-2024. Once operational, the facility will provide 160 long-term jobs.

Japanese global drinks manufacturer Suntory is currently building its new facility on a 17-hectare industrial site located southeast of Ipswich after getting the green light last September 2022.

The multi-beverage manufacturing facility is expected to produce up to 20 million cases of its well-known beverages annually and it has the capacity to be scaled up when needed. Frucor Suntory manufactures and distributes a wide range of energy drinks and sparkling and other non-alcoholic beverages across Oceania.

During its construction, the project will provide 450 construction and installation jobs. Once open and operational, the development is also expected to benefit the communities of Ipswich, Redbank Plains, Springfield and Ripley Valley with job opportunities.

“Japanese companies like Suntory recognise the benefits of investing in Queensland and Queenslanders,” Queensland minister for trade and investment Cameron Dick said when he made the announcement last year.

“This new investment in the Frucor Suntory facility shows the strength of the Queensland-Japan trade and investment relationship, now sixty years strong.”

Darren Fullerton, Frucor Suntory CEO, said that the company manufactures all its products for Australia over in New Zealand and currently has run out of capacity. The new multi-beverage facility in Ipswich will allow the manufacturer to fulfil its growing retail and consumer demand, enabling it to process, package, warehouse and distribute its beverage products for its Australian customers.

“Ipswich is the perfect place for high-skill, high tech manufacturing,” Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said.

“Our community is ideally placed with the right workforce, logistics and transport links.”

“Ipswich City Council and the Ipswich community are delighted to welcome Frucor Suntory with its new manufacturing facility to be constructed in Swanbank,” Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“This project will deliver hundreds of local jobs; about 450 during the initial construction phase and another 160 long-term roles when it starts operating from 2024.

“It shows there are significant benefits to global companies establishing their facilities in the city and being part of the local economy.”

Landfills in Ipswich Under Investigation as Residents Fight for Clean Air

Probes and inspections have been expanded at the landfills in Ipswich following the recent floods as residents continue to deal with odour issues and fight for clean air.

In a statement, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said that it is taking action against those responsible for the stench impacting the residential communities.

DES has ordered Cleanaway, one of the operators of the landfill, to continue treating the dumpsites to reduce the odour and ensure that the chemical treatments are carefully disposed of across the water body.

DES also stated that water sampling has been conducted at Cleanway’s facilities, which indicated low levels of contamination.

Community Needs to See Improvement

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding acknowledged the “horrendous” smell at landfills in Ipswich, specifically in Swanbank and New Chum. Whilst she backs the DES probe, the mayor also said that this effort will mean nothing “if the community don’t see an improvement.”

“DES is responsible for investigating and responding to community concerns about odour, dust and other environmental nuisances,” the mayor said.

“Council supports the moves that Cleanaway are making in firstly announcing publicly that they believe they have a problem and are trying to fix it – and we encourage them to communicate to the regulators and the community on this complex and worrying issue.

“They must comply with the state government laws and operate in a safe manner.”

However, a DES report published on 5 May 2022 cited that whilst Cleanway was given clearance for a 24×7 transfer operation of leachate, there have been no trucks on-site, per the members of the Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environment. They have written the Environment Minister to bring this issue to light.

Health Issues Affecting Residents

Some of the affected residents include Collingwood Park and Riverview. One local councillor said that the Odour Abatement Taskforce has received 13,450 complaints about odour, dust and other environmental issues since its formation in 2018.

Locals have been asking to shut down these landfills for nearly a decade. Reports cited that the recent flooding has made the stench intolerable and out of control and the quality of the air makes their eyes water.

Some residents wake up with migraines or respiratory issues and deal with a stench that makes them vomit. The locals said the smell wafts through their backyard and into their vents and windows.

Swanbank E Power Station’s Value Plummets to Zero

Once a highly efficient 385 megawatts gas-fired power station, Swanbank E, located 10 kilometres south of Ipswich, has devalued to zero and will continue to lose money until its retirement in 2036.

A new report released by the Queensland Audit Office revealed that more than $1 billion in the value of gas and coal power stations across Queensland, which is operated by Stanwell, CS Energy and CleanCo, have been written down in the past year.

Whilst net profits gained from transmission and distribution, the numbers were 26 percent lower in the latest report.

COMPANY	VALUE	% of TOTAL ASSETS DECREASE
Stanwell	$720 million	19 percent
CS Energy	$353 million	15 percent
CleanCo	$35 million	8 percent

Factors affecting the reduction in the value of these power stations were attributed to:

the decreasing demand for electricity due to COVID-19
the increasing demand for the generation of renewable sources
lower gas prices

As CleanCo has written off the Swanbank E power station, Stanwell and CS Energy project that their power stations will still be profitable until its scheduled retirement in five years.

However, the Queensland Audit Office said that the forecasted revenues for these power stations will no longer cover the future cost of operations. The devaluation may push the State Government to fast-track decommission as losses accumulate but Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said that no such plans are in place.

“It’s in the best interest of Queenslanders if the state and federal governments plan for a rapid transition to clean energy,” Solar Citizens said. “They need to be upfront with the community and provide certainty for workers who will be affected by inevitable generator closures.”

Swanbank E power station was commissioned in 2002 to help Queenslanders wean off coal-powered electricity. The cost to build and operate this facility was $300 million.