Since October 2018, a putrid stench has plagued the warm evenings Lindsay Cox and his wife once spent outside, enjoying the fresh air.
The couple moved to Logan’s Marsden in early 2017 to be closer to family after a relaxing life on the Gold Coast.
But a “nauseating” stench wafts onto their Newhaven Street property each evening at approximately 6:20pm, beginning in early October every year – according to Mr Cox who makes diligent and daily records.
The stench lingers until February the following year.
Mr Cox has heard all the possible causes – bats, flowers, beetles, grass clippings – but he’s not convinced.
He believes the odour is caused by a nearby business.
“It is an industrial smell – it’s a hot, metal smell,” he said.
“My father was a fitter welder, and when I was a kid and went to his work, he was gas welding – that is the smell.
“Because it’s so thick and heavy, it stays in little alcoves until the next day.”
Often Mr Cox and his wife notice the smell in neighbouring streets and their neighbours have also noticed the odour.
“The guy next door, he was out in the garage and his wife thought their car was on fire,” Mr Cox said.
Mr Cox has reported the issue to Logan City Council and the Department of Environment, both of which have failed to find the culprit.
“Logan City Council has undertaken extensive and comprehensive investigations over a number of years to detect the claimed odour and its source,” a council spokesperson said.
“These investigations have included various visits to the complainant’s residence as well as investigations in the local area including industrial estates.”
According to the spokesperson, council officers said “mild intermittent odours” had been detected at the residence.
“But no similar odours have been identified in the local area,” the spokesperson said.
“Council engaged an independent consultant to undertake air monitoring in November 2020 and December 2021 as well as trying to identify a source.
“The independent report likened the odour to flying fox roosts and recommended further testing and when this was done the odour was described as ‘incense-like’.”
After years of walking and driving around his neighbourhood in an attempt to track the smell, Mr Cox now suspects the odour is coming from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program headquarters at Berrinba, around 1.1km away from his home in a straight line.
He suspects chemicals used at the Wayne Goss Drive headquarters, which was established in 2018, are the cause, but a spokesperson from the eradication program said this wasn’t the case.
The odour is present seven days a week, even on public holidays and Christmas Day.
“The National Fire Ant Eradication Program headquarters in Berrinba, Logan is open on weekdays, with weekend work undertaken on a needs-only basis,” the spokesperson said.
“We are not open on public holidays – our business hours are 6am to 5pm.”
As for any potentially dumped chemicals that could create the odour, the spokesperson said they did not dispose of any chemicals on any of their premises.
“The treatment products we use are all stored indoors, and in the packaging supplied by the manufacturer or in airtight, sealed containers as per safety data sheets for each product,” the spokesperson said.
Council said the matter had been subject to two internal reviews, and council had “exhausted all options in investigating this complaint”.
“The complainant has been advised that he has the option to apply for an external review of Council’s decision by the Queensland Ombudsman and has been provided with the contact details,” the spokesperson said.
