Environmental justice in Australia: measuring the relationship between industrial odour exposure and community disadvantage

Community impact and environmental justice issues are examined across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, using 2008-2011 self-reported odour complaint data as a direct measure of odour pollution exposure. Differences in pollution exposure and indicators of socio-economic disadvantage were compared across acres using spatial clustering and statistical analyses. Results found that odour affected areas have greater socio-economic disadvantages supporting the existence of environmental justice issues in metropolitan Melbourne. Commonly used buffers of 1 km surrounding polluting facilities under-represent odour affected areas. Findings have implications for urban planning and policy in establishing separation distances between residential and industrial zones in new and existing developments where guidelines are lacking.