Swanbank Public Health Inquiry

Background

On 9 January 2025, the Honourable Tim Nicholls, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, announced an inquiry into the odour issues at the Swanbank and New Chum industrial areas, following concerns raised by the community.

The Inquiry was conducted in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Public Health Act 2005 by a panel chaired by specialist physician and Queensland’s former Chief Health Officer, Dr John Gerrard. Dr Gerrard was joined on the Panel by Dr Lyn Denison, an expert in air quality as it relates to human health.

The Inquiry’s scope was to investigate the health effects of odour from the industrial areas and to recommend actions to lessen the impacts.

A final report from the Inquiry was released on 19 November 2025.

Terms of reference

View the full terms of reference (PDF 135 kB).

Report and recommendations

The final report details the panel’s findings, recommendations and other relevant matters. View the final report (PDF 12849 kB).

The report found that the odours from Swanbank and New Chum industrial areas were not a cancer risk but were highly offensive and potentially harmful to health and wellbeing.

Findings

  • The odour is highly offensive and is impacting the health and wellbeing of Ipswich residents.
  • The most common symptoms include respiratory, ear-nose-throat, neurological, gastrointestinal, skin and mental health, consistent with medical literature.
  • There is no increased risk of cancer in the exposed population.
  • Odorous chemicals in the air do not need to be at toxic levels for them to impact health.
  • There are other potential sources of offensive odour in the industrial areas.
  • The Inquiry could not determine whether current odour management practices meet best industry practice.
  • Air quality monitoring undertaken in the community may not adequately reflect the range of pollutants to which they might be exposed.
  • Existing legislative frameworks and instruments may not support effective assessment, management and enforcement to lessen odour.

To reduce the odour impacts and protect community health and wellbeing, the report recommends:

  • providing some immediate relief from the most offensive odours from composters
  • considering 2 options to provide long-term relief from highly offensive odour from composting
  • applying recommendations 1 and 2 to the other commercial composting site operating in Ipswich
  • auditing all remaining odour-producing companies in the industrial areas and develop an overarching odour management plan
  • considering undertaking an expanded air monitoring program in the industrial and nearby residential areas
  • protecting industrial buffer zones from development
  • leveraging existing laws and considering improvements to legislation to better manage odours
  • establishing an inter-departmental steering committee responsible for implementing these recommendations.

Government response

The Queensland Government supports the Inquiry recommendations and recognises the significant impact that odour issues in the Swanbank and New Chum industrial areas have had on the local community.

Addressing these concerns remains a top priority, and collaboration with local government, industry and the community is key to ensuring meaningful, transparent and timely action.

Actions already underway include stricter licence conditions and a court-ordered restraint to provide a long-term shift to best practice composting. Interim measures have also been implemented to lessen odour impacts, which are benefitting the local community.

The establishment of the Swanbank Inter-Departmental Steering Committee will provide additional oversight and ensure ongoing engagement with the community as actions are implemented. The Committee will be supported by both Community and Industry reference groups, who will provide regular updates.

View the detailed government response (PDF 217 kB).

Health and support services

If people are experiencing symptoms due to odour, they can seek medical help by talking to their GP or calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for 24/7 confidential advice from a registered nurse.

People can visit the Queensland Government website for more information on mental health support.

Ipswich Medicare Mental Health Centre, formerly known as Ipswich Head to Health, is a free, federally funded service for adult mental health care. People can walk in without an appointment or referral.

People should always call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

More information

To learn more about odour annoyance and its potential health impacts, download the following fact sheets:

For more information related to environmental concerns, compliance actions and to report odour concerns, visit the Queensland Government website.

Contact us

If you wish to contact Queensland Health about the Swanbank Public Health Inquiry, please email PublicHealthInquiry_Swanbank@health.qld.gov.au.

Last updated: 9 March 2026