Andrew Martin, Hector Machado, Gary Hall & Anna Skillington
Abstract – A waste operator was recently fined more than $600,000, the highest penalty for odour nuisance in Queensland (DETSI 2024). The Court found they failed to take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent odour.
In February 2022, an extreme rainfall event occurred resulting in a large body of rainwater contaminated with leachate. A very large number of community odour complaints followed over the next 5 months. During this period much of the landfill surface only had temporary cover, which was disturbed by heavy rainfall. The landfill contained construction and demolition debris and contaminated soil. This would likely include gypsum panels, which release sulfides following anaerobic decomposition.
Trinity Consultants (Trinity) was engaged to provide an expert’s opinion on odour emanating from the site, its cause and impact. Extensive on-site and off-site monitoring of sulfides and volatile organic compounds was undertaken by the commercial operator, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES), and Trinity. The odour surveys conducted by Trinity found that odour from the site reached residential areas on many occasions with up to very strong intensity. There were multiple occurrences of high hydrogen sulfide and concentrations reached 90 ppb near residences.
Based on the monitoring results and community witness statements, it was concluded that odour nuisance had occurred for months across four residential suburbs. Based on analysis of meteorology and other potential sources, the landfill was responsible. It was also concluded that odour was emitted from: the large anoxic waterbody; the degraded landfill surface; and earthworks on site. The contributing factors included insufficient permanent capping, leachate drainage, gas capture and surface stormwater drainage, as well as reuse of contaminated water and flooding of the surface water body back into the landfill cell. Addressing these in an odour management plan would reduce the likelihood of nuisance and associated penalties.
Presented at the The Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ) 28th International Clean Air and Environment Conference and the Asia-Pacific Odour Conference in Cairns, Queensland, on 31 August to 2 September 2026.