The operator of a landfill site in Ipswich has chalked the city’s big stink up to nothing more than a side-effect of February’s floods.

Residents have complained more than 16,000 times since 2018 when an odour abatement taskforce was set up by the state government.

Cleanaway’s New Chum site is at the heart of the complaints but operators are blaming the stench on floodwaters brought on by heavy rains earlier this year.

“It all ties back to the flood,” Cleanaway’s Tracey Boyes told Sofie Formica.

“It’s that large body of water that became anaerobic that was the cause of the odour following the February floods.”

On residents’ complaints that predate 2022 altogether, Ms Boyes said the odour is “not something that’s been a problem in the past”.

“Oh, we’re absolutely on top of it,” she continued. “They’re testing regularly for odour, we’ve always been within health guidelines.”

Press PLAY below to hear Cleanaway’s response to the complaints in full 

Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments President Jim Dodrill told Sofie Formica the suggestion floodwaters are to blame can’t be correct.

“There was no floodwater ingress into the site,” he said. “The site stands fairly high compares to the surrounding areas so there was no floodwater that went in there.”

Mr Dodrill doubted Ms Boyes was aware Cleanaway is “being investigated for an illegal RRA (resource recovery area)”.

“They definitely do not have any approval from the Ipswich City Council, which they  must have before operating.”

Press PLAY below to hear Jim Dodrill’s response 

Image: Jim Dodrill / Facebook