An Odour Abatement Taskforce has been set upon an Ipswich suburb, west of Brisbane, to investigate a foul smell.

The taskforce, nicknamed Odourbusters by the Queensland government, was announced after the environment department was hit with complaints of a bad smell seeping from the Swanbank industrial area.

The department said 167 people made 302 complaints about a bad smell from recycling facilities and landfill.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch launched the 12-month operation on Thursday after a community service provided enough evidence to justify the $2.5 million taskforce.

More than half of the respondents were concerned with air quality and nuisance odours.

“With the information received from 1435 local residents, we have moved swiftly to establish a taskforce of 10 specialist environmental officers who will hit the ground from [Thursday],” Ms Enoch said.

“Part of our response will be to introduce new technologies to monitor air, noise and water quality in Ipswich suburbs.”

Ipswich West MP Jim Madden said the environmental regulator conducted 855 compliance checks in the Ipswich area over the past financial year, out of the total 7250 across the state.

The taskforce will be based in Redbank Plains.

People can call 1300 130 372 and dial 3 to speak to someone about Swanbank.