ECan needs better odour detection

An Environment Canterbury councillor is calling for a more urgent and ‘‘science-based’’ approach to tackling Timaru’s unpleasant odours.

The regional council received 29 complaints about obnoxious odours in Timaru in January, but has not been able to officially pin down the source of the smells.

ECan South Canterbury councillor Dr Elizabeth McKenzie said the current approach to tracking down odours nationwide was outdated and needed a fresh approach.

‘‘At the moment, we’re reliant on people calling in and guessing what the smell is and where it could be coming from,’’ McKenzie said.

‘‘There needs to be a greater analysis of the actual compounds causing the odour. That would enable us to track down the source.’’

McKenzie said she sympathised with those who had to deal with the unpleasant smells.

One approach could be collaborating with universities and technical institutes to get the science required up to speed, she said.

‘‘If local and regional councils could combine with a university that would be really cost-effective.’’

McKenzie said part of the issue was actually proving where the smells came from, and ECan did not have the technology to be totally accurate about it.

‘‘If the companies dispute the origin of the odour, then odour analysis is required. However, at present, nationwide, there is a distinct

lack of odour analysis methods available,’’ she said.

‘‘I think that it would be worth ECan considering leading the development of odour analysis methods.’’

‘‘We all want to achieve a good result for people and the environment.’’

While the source of the most recent Timaru complaints has not yet been determined, McKenzie understood that an animal processing plant was one of a number of possible sources of odour in that locality.

She said she understood ECan staff were working with all the potential sources they were aware of in the area.

She was also concerned whether the impact of increasingly hot summer temperatures and changes in wind patterns, due to climate change, could exacerbate the issue.

‘‘At the moment, we’re reliant on people calling in and guessing what the smell is and where it could be coming from.’’

Dr Elizabeth McKenzie ECan councillor

‘‘It could increase rotting and other biological processes that contribute to odour, which might necessitate further odour mitigation measures, although increases in food production and population density could also drive this’’.

ECan has previously told Stuff that the bulk of the odour complaints in January came from the Oceanview, Waimataitai, Washdyke, Marchwiel and Smithfield suburbs of Timaru.