Swanbank Public Health Inquiry

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

The inquiry will investigate potential health effects of odours from the industrial estate and recommend actions that may be taken to mitigate any health-related impacts on local communities.

Public consultation events will be held with residents to understand their experiences and the impact of odour issues on the community.

The inquiry will review any relevant health-related evidence from 2016 to now to help account for historical and current complaints regarding health concerns from community members living near the industrial estate.

Inquiry process

The inquiry will run for six months.

Specialist physician and former Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard will chair the inquiry, which will include expertise in environmental matters, supported with legal and clinical advice as necessary.

A report will be prepared for the Queensland Government that will determine whether odour has impacted the health of residents and what can be done to address this.

The final report will be released in mid-2025.

Terms of Reference

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