It has been a long haul for community members who formed the Rutherford Air Quality Liaison Committee three years ago to sort out the problem of the stink in the suburb.
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The ground-breaking committee of residents, industry representatives and experts from the Environment Protection Authority was formed by Maitland MP Robyn Parker and then environment minister, to find out where the stink was coming from and how to stop it.
Other authorities with similar problems could do well to copy this successful model.
More importantly for Rutherford people, this joint enterprise has stopped the big stink that has haunted the area for 18 years.
Although the committee has warned that all problems have not been totally resolved and other odours might still be expected from time to time.
Everyone is waiting for winter to arrive to see how the system functions.
But the experience for all those involved has been positive.
How has it worked?
Industry has had to lift its game and become more accountable, was the view of one participant in the procedure.
But this was never about taking industry to task.
It has been successful because all sides were willing to talk things over.
They found they all had the same purpose: to keep industries in Rutherford and to keep jobs in the area.
A priority was always the health of local people – to eliminate health risks associated with odours.
In the beginning, it was difficult: industries were very wary of how things were going to work out.
But, as Ms Parker said, everyone worked together and achieved a positive outcome.
