Does Munster stink?

by Terri Russell

May 9, 2008

MUNSTER residents are being asked every two months if their suburb smells like rotten eggs, a swamp, or if the air carries a slightly musky scent,

The latest installation of a Water Corporation phone survey this week asked about 200 people, within a 2.5km radius of the Woodman Point wastewater plant, how much they know about the plant and how much pong was discernable.

Surveys have been conducted every two months since early 2007.

About $137 million is being spent on the poopworks, marking the first of three stages, which aim to decrease odours by half by October this year. More noise and air pollution is expected during the upgrade, which is already underway, Water Corp’s Steven Mackenzie said.

With complaints received “regularly”, Mr Mackenzie admitted odour management of the plant is “not as good as it should be”.

Mr Mackenzie urged nearby residents to hang-in-there as the long-term benefits would be worthwhile.

“Some sections of the plant have covers which might need to be removed, which may lead to a temporary increase in odours,” said Mr Mackenzie.

Some survey questions include what hours the worst smells waft in, and whether the pong smelt like rotten eggs, smoky, musky, or swampy. Each smell reflects the scent of particular chemicals used at the plant.