The Rutherford “stink” caused by industrial emissions has become a real health risk, Harvey Norman franchisee Nick Swanson said on Thursday.
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Mr Swanson was speaking to the Mercury about the information night put on by the Environment Protection Authority, which he said had been a very disappointing event.
“We wanted that meeting to give us some finality as to what is going on with the odours in Rutherford, but we didn’t get it,” Mr Swanson said.
“The EPA gave us no direction on how we should proceed or where we are going with this issue now.
“There were no new outcomes revealed and I was very disappointed.”
Mr Swanson said he had spoken to the Harvey Norman, the property owners with 40 stores in the Rutherford complex, who had asked to be kept informed about the situation.
“They don’t want customers to avoid this area because of these smells,” he said.
Mr Swanson said had offered the EPA a chance to put air quality sensors on their roof to try to find where the odours were originating.
“I feel someone knows something about all this, but nothing is being done about it,” Mr Swanson said.
“It makes me wonder what is happening.
“I have been here for the past six years and I have absolutely had enough of all this.
“There are some real health issues here and it is no longer just a case of putting up with the so-called Rutherford stink.
“Twenty-seven people complained about odours in July,” he said.
“That is pretty terrible considering the hundreds of people affected by them.
“I believe many people still do not know the EPA number to ring when the smells occur.”
He urged people to persist in ringing the EPA on 131 555 when the smells happen.
“If a few hundred people ring up to complain – instead of 30 – the EPA might receive more resources to do their job,” Mr Swanson said.
“Last winter we sent people home from work because of the odours. The airconditioning pulled the smells into the building from outside and it was very unpleasant.”
EPA Hunter manager Adam Gilligan said: “The EPA meeting at the Bradford Hotel was held so any interested community members could share their concerns about the Rutherford odour issues and learn about the work the EPA is carrying out to address these concerns.
“The EPA understands the frustration the ongoing odour issue causes for people living and working around Rutherford Industrial Estate and we want to reassure the community we are working hard to address the problem.”