Report a problem – Pollution

If you're having a problem with local pollution, we may be able to help. The information in this section will help you decide whether your problem can be reported and which organisation can help.

For information regarding noise pollution, please refer to our Report a problem – Noise nuisance page.

Dust pollution & land dust

Dust from construction, development and land can be a nuisance to neighbours and can affect people's health.

We can investigate complaints about dust from development and dust nuisance from residential and commercial land. For more information, read our fact sheet:

Dirt and dust from construction(PDF, 69KB)

If you have a problem with dust associated with a development, you can follow these steps:

  1. Talk to the person responsible for the dust to try and solve the problem. You could give them a copy of our Dirt and dust from construction fact sheet and talk about ways to reduce the dust. Give them a timeframe to solve the problem.
  2. If talking to the person responsible for the dust does not solve the problem, you can report the problem to us. You can report a dust problem online.

Report a DUST problem

If you have a problem with land dust (not linked to development), you can report a land dust problem online.

Report land dust

Air pollution (smoke, spray drift) and odour

Air pollution and odour can come from many sources. It might include:

General odour

For more information about general odour, download our fact sheet:

Odour nuisance(PDF, 69KB)

If you have a problem with general odour, you can follow these steps:

  1. Talk to the person responsible for the odour nuisance to try and solve the problem. You could give them a copy of our Odour nuisance fact sheet and talk about ways to reduce the problem. Give them a timeframe to solve the problem.
  2. If talking to the person responsible for the odour does not solve the problem, you can report it to us and we will investigate. If we identify that the odour is a nuisance, we can direct the person to solve the problem. We will consider the amount of odour emitted, how long the odour has been a problem, and the opinions of other neighbours. You can report the odour nuisance online.
Report air pollution

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S, rotten egg gas) or sewage odour

Rotten egg gas smells can occur for a number of reasons.

  • Mangroves - Mangroves can give off an odour like rotten eggs. This usually happens from May to November. It occurs because of the decay of organic matter producing hydrogen sulphide gas. To learn more, download our Living with mangrove odours brochure(PDF, 748KB)
  • Fish deaths – sometimes fish deaths can occur in our waterways. For more information visit fish death. If you see a fish death, report it to us by calling 07 5667 5988 or reporting it through our online form.
  • City sewerage or waste assets - If you believe an odour is coming from a City-owned asset such as a sewer maintenance hole, sewage pumping station, sewage treatment plant, landfill or waste recovery centre, please phone the City on 07 5667 5988 so we can investigate.

    Odour relating to private plumbing and drainage

    Odours from private plumbing and drainage can be a nuisance to neighbours and can affect people's health.

    If you experience a problem with odour from plumbing and drainage on private land, you can follow these steps:

    1. Talk to the person responsible for creating the plumbing and drainage odour. Give them a timeframe to solve it.
    2. If talking to the person responsible for the odour does not solve the problem, contact the Dispute resolution Centre.

    Smoke from bonfires or burning off

    Smoke and particles from fires can cause a nuisance to neighbours and interfere with their normal daily activities. Severe smoke can affect people's health.

    Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) must give permission before anyone in the City of Gold Coast lights an open-air fire that is greater than two square metres.

    Council is responsible for regulating fire hazards and smoke nuisance. You cannot light a fire that causes a fire hazard or smoke nuisance, even if you have QFES approval for the fire.

    For more information about open-air fires or residential fire pits, please download our fact sheets:

    Open-air fires(PDF, 69KB)

    Residential fire pits and smoke(PDF, 89KB)

    If you want advice before lighting a fire on your property, please call us on 07 5667 5988.

    If you are concerned about smoke pollution from a fire lit by your neighbour, you can report it to us and we may be able to investigate. You can report the smoke nuisance online.

    Report air pollution

    Spray drift

    Painting and other types of spraying can cause a nuisance to neighbours and can affect people's health.

    For more information about spray drift, please download our fact sheet:

    Spray drift(PDF, 69KB)

    If you are concerned about spray drift, you can follow these steps:

    1. Talk to the person responsible for the creating the spray drift. You could give them a copy of our Spray drift fact sheet and talk about ways to reduce the problem. Give them a timeframe to solve the problem.
    2. If talking to the person responsible for the spray drift does not solve the problem, you can report it to us and we will investigate. If we identify that the spray drift is a nuisance, we can direct the person to solve the problem. We will consider the amount of spray or pollutant emitted, how long it has been a problem, and the opinions of other neighbours. You can report the odour nuisance online or call us on 07 5667 5988.
      3. Report air pollution

    Light nuisance

    Light can cause a nuisance to neighbours and interfere with their usual daily activities. Severe light nuisance can affect people's health.

    Excess light can come from many sources including security lights, spotlights and floodlights.

    For more information about light nuisance, please download our fact sheet:

    Light nuisance(PDF, 239KB)

    If you are concerned about light nuisance from residential and commercial properties, you can follow these steps:

    1. Talk to the person responsible for the light. They may not be aware that their lights are causing a nuisance. Ask whether the light can be reduced or switched off at certain times. You could give them a copy of our Light nuisance fact sheet. Give them a timeframe to solve the problem.
    2. If talking to the person responsible for the light does not solve the problem, you can report it to us and we will investigate. If we identify a light nuisance, we can direct the person to solve the problem. You can report a light nuisance online.
      3. Report light nuisance

      Water pollution

      If the water pollution is happening now and requires an urgent response, please call us on 07 5667 5988.

      Water pollution can affect our rivers, estuaries and beaches, and damage our natural playgrounds. Severe water pollution could prevent people from enjoying the water for swimming, boating, fishing, surfing and wildlife-watching.

      Everyone is responsible for preventing water pollution by keeping our waterways clean and making sure that only clean water enters our stormwater systems.

      For more information, download our fact sheets:

      If you are concerned that someone in the city is polluting our waterways by dumping rubbish or releasing chemicals, please contact us.

      Report water pollution

Related information

Back to top