Odour specialist enlisted & town hall meeting called as authorities address mystery smell plaguing Boulder

An odour specialist has been enlisted and a town hall meeting called as local authorities work to address a mystery foul smell plaguing residents in parts of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The smell which has been the source of complaints from residents in Boulder has been described by long-term local Laurie Galliers as a “putrid sewage smell”. Speaking to the Kalgoorlie Miner in April, Mr Galliers said the smell had forced him to keep doors and windows closed, and remain inside to avoid the unbearable stench. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder announced on Tuesday it had appointed an “independent odour specialist” to conduct an assessment of the reported odour. The specialist’s study will include a community meeting at Boulder Town Hall next week to give residents the opportunity to contribute to the research. Mayor Glenn Wilson encouraged all residents affected by the odour to attend, including those who had already made reports to the city. “We have been collaborating closely with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to investigate this issue, and we are taking proactive steps to identify the source or sources of these odours,” Mr Wilson said. “The city is committed to ensuring that no one should feel constrained within their home due to persistent odours, which is why we’ve engaged an independent specialist to conduct a comprehensive assessment and bring these findings to council.” Mr Wilson rejected assumptions the smell was linked to the local sewage treatment plant. “While many believe the smell is coming from the city’s wastewater treatment plant, the facility has consistently met all regulatory standards, and we monitor it closely to ensure ongoing compliance,” he said. “With many possible contributors to this issue, it’s important to investigate all potential sources in order to resolve this matter effectively.” The city’s action this week follows years of complaints about bad smells in the area, with the Miner reporting in 2022 the issue of “foul smells” in the area described as “sweet” and “toxic”. At the time, the city said it had investigated complaints on the issue and referred them to DWER for further investigation. In response to a letter from Mr Galliers in December last year, the WA health minister’s office told him the city had investigated the matter and linked it to a mine site. In that letter, sighted by the Kalgoorlie Miner, the source of the odour had been identified as “a nearby nickel smelting plant” — a reference to BHP Nickel West’s Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter. However, in response to questions from the Miner in April, city chief executive Andrew Brien said the city “did not reach this conclusion”, and the matter was referred to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. The community meeting will take place at 5pm on Monday, October 21 at Boulder Town Hall, with residents encouraged to pre-register on the city’s website. Those unable to attend can provide feedback by contacting the city’s environmental health team at 9021 9600 or by emailing mailbag@ckb.wa.gov.au.