An organic waste processing facility on the Sunshine Coast has been ordered by state authorities to investigate the source of odours and implement a surveillance program following community complaints.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) issued an Environmental Enforcement Order to Landsborough-based Norganics earlier this year, requiring the company to investigate odour sources and introduce monitoring measures. The order remains in place.
“In response to community reports, an environmental enforcement order (EEO) was issued to Norganics on 12 March 2026 requiring them to investigate odour sources and implement an odour surveillance program,” a DETSI spokesperson said.
The department said it would continue monitoring the company’s compliance and encouraged residents to report odours through its pollution hotline or online environmental reporting system.
Norganics operates a rendering and animal by-product processing facility on Beerburrum Street, near Landsborough’s business precinct and residential areas. The facility processes animal by-products into products including animal fats, oils and protein meals used in agricultural and pet food industries.
Sunshine Coast News has contacted Norganics for comment.
A local business owner, who operates a cafe on Maleny Street and asked not to be named, said the smell had become a regular talking point among customers.
“The town just gets swamped by this really bad smell from that factory,” he said.
“We’ve got outdoor seating and I’ve heard customers talking about it while sitting outside. We’re right in the middle of town and depending on which way the wind is blowing, you can smell it.”
The business owner said the odour tended to occur in waves rather than constantly.
“It seems to be a daily thing for maybe a week or two and then there’s nothing for a while before it ramps up again,” he said.
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Residents have also aired concerns on social media. In a Landsborough community Facebook group in April, one resident wrote: “I live directly across from them and it is foul. We cannot open our windows or doors and kids barely play outside because of it”.
Another resident said they had lived in the area for about 25 years and had only recently begun noticing the smell from their property.
The complaints are not new. In November 2025, Norganics posted a public apology on social media, acknowledging community concerns about odours.
“We are truly sorry for the distress and inconvenience the recent odours have caused you and your families,” the company said.
Norganics said it had installed additional odour filtration systems, adjusted processes and changed specifications for materials arriving on site in an effort to reduce odour impacts. The company also invited residents to report incidents directly so staff could investigate potential causes.
The department said it would continue monitoring compliance with the enforcement order while encouraging residents to continue reporting any odour events.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
