A large regional city in New South Wales, Australia, commissioned The Odour Unit to develop an odour dispersion model for the noxious industry area on the outskirts of the city. It is intended that the model be used by the city in developing appropriate zoning around the estate. It will also be provided to prospective industries as a means of assessing the extent to which odour control will be required.

The project estimated or measured odour emissions from 20 existing industries in the industrial area. The major industries were subjected to odour emission sampling and testing. Other industrial emissions were estimated, based on TOU's extensive industrial odour emissions database. A site-specific odour dispersion model for the whole industrial area was developed, based on the Ausplume model. The model was validated using an extensive odour complaint database plus direct community feedback. A target air quality standard for odour in the vicinity of the area was then developed from the modelling.

The model enables the City to examine the odour impacts likely to be associated with prospective industrial developments and will be used to set appropriate odour buffer distances around the industrial area.