The assessment confirmed that a difference exists between community perception of risks
and the actual risk as determined through objective data. These perceptions were most likely
exacerbated by the negative media most likely contributing to undue stress to both the
community and industry.
Business owners have faced uncertainty regarding their future within the NIE as a result of
the media reports. This uncertainty has impacted on ability/opportunities to expand operations
limiting long term sustainability and future job creation.
Local industry contributes to the local community through local employment and the
contributions it makes to the local economy. However, the co-location of industry and
community needs to be considered further by government. Two main areas have been
identified relating to planning:
• land use allocation for high impact industry and compatibility with other land uses
• land design of high impact industrial estates.
The issues surrounding the NIE are remnants relating to previous land use planning decisions
and subsequent nuisance level impacts on the community. While they are not likely to cause
disease or ill health, they are still important considerations for government. Adverse impacts
were experienced by community, industry and individual government agency as a result of
previous land use planning decisions.
Community trust of government was considered reasonable although distrust of private
industry was reported in the risk perception survey. The positive level of trust and confidence
in government is an indication of the social well being of the community. The level of distrust
expressed towards industry will limit the ability of industry and sectors of the community to
work together effectively in the future.
The management of community perceptions and expectations becomes complex when there
is a divergence in views of levels of acceptability as is the case with the management of
environmental or amenity criteria. Business and government operate under principles of best
practice controls while community will often seek an environment of nil risk/impact which in
some cases may not be achievable.
Land use incompatibility issues identified with the NIE, have been considered by the
Queensland Government in the establishment of the Accelerated Planning Initiatives and the
State Planning Policy: Air, Noise and Hazardous Materials.
In addition, the Binary Industries fire presented a number of challenges to the state
government with respect to environmental contamination containment and the costs
associated with the cleanup. It is now recognised that future high impact industry estates
need to be designed in a way that accommodates potential firewater volumes and limits
contamination of the wider community has been identified. Similarly, profiling the area prior to
development may assist in providing baseline data against which subsequent industry
impacts or environmental contamination may be assessed.
The HIA has considered a broad range of information to determine the impact of the NIE on
the community. This information has been considered in the context of the three dimensions
of health:
• Physical health—there were no indications that the physical health of the community was
compromised. Self reported health was similar to Queensland. Morbidity rates were below
or similar to the rates for Queensland except for respiratory diseases and coronary heart
disease which were higher. The increase in respiratory disease was not due to a
disproportionate burden of asthma but a variety of acute respiratory infections and other
chronic lung diseases. The rates for asthma represented 1-2 additional hospital
separations per month which does not represent an unusual variation. The higher rate for chronic heart disease is not associated with air quality and was not entirely unexpected
due to the bi-directional association between social disadvantage and health status.
• Psychological health—there was no indication that the psychological health of the
Narangba/Deception Bay community was stressed. Mental and behavioural disorders
were below or similar to Queensland rates. These figures did not indicate any anomalies
within the community. However, this is not to underestimate the impact on some
community members associated with uncertainty about the potential for emissions to be
impacting on their health prior to the HRA.
• Social health and well-being—some social health and well-being impacts were identified.
Impact on some community sectors from environmental odour nuisance was reported at
the commencement of the study. Efforts by business and government have reduced the
impact of odour with CRG reporting that odour impacts had decreased. This was also
reflected in the decreased number of odour related complaints throughout the progress of
the study.