Appendix 6. Odour Buffer Assessment [As Published] · 132007.2399

3.3 Queensland Odour Guideline
In July 2004, the Queensland EPA released the final form of its Guideline on „Odour
Impact Assessment from Developments‟. This document had been in development
for some years, a fact reflecting the challenges in developing a comprehensive
odour policy.

For the assessment of odours caused by complex mixtures of odorous compounds,
such as odours from wastewater treatment plants or intensive livestock operations,
the Guideline sets out three possible approaches to establishing criteria for
assessing acceptable levels of impact based on odour dispersion modelling:

        Odour annoyance threshold (concentration) guidelines;

        Odour intensity guideline; and

        Alternative assessment tools for odour assessment for the expansion of
         existing activities.

For this study, the „default‟ odour concentration guideline approach is adopted,
since there is insufficient information to justify an alternative approach. The
Guideline sets out the following advice in relation to odour concentration guidelines:

         Proponents of new facilities may undertake an impact assessment with
         relevant inputs of emissions and local meteorology to an air dispersion
         model to provide estimates of the likely odour impacts in the surrounding
         environment. The inputs should be as detailed as possible, reflecting any
         variation of emissions with time and including at least a full year of
         representative hourly meteorological data.        The modelled odour
         concentrations at the “most exposed existing or likely future off-site
         sensitive receptors” should be compared with the following guideline
         values.

                 0.5 ou, 1-hour average, 99.5th percentile for tall stacks

                 2.5 ou, 1-hour average, 99.5th percentile for ground-level sources
                  and down-washed plumes from short stacks, and

                 for facilities that do not operate continuously, the 99.5th percentile
                  must be applied to the actual hours of operation.

Further details are contained in section 5.1 of the Guideline.

In the application of this type of guideline, the appropriate criterion for the Noosa
STP is C99.5 1hr = 2.5 ou, since it is not a „tall stack‟ source type.




1898b Report.doc                                                                           5
Noosa Springs Precinct J Development StarCo Developments Limited
PAE Job 1898b