NSW Environmental Protection Agency NSW Government
 

Marys Mount Landfill Fire Gunnedah

In December 2024 a fire broke out in both waste cells at the Marys Mount landfill in Gunnedah. Since then, the EPA has been working to ensure the licensee and owner of the landfill take appropriate actions to suppress the fire and reduce the impact of smoke and odours on the community.

One landfill cell has since been repaired and the fire extinguished, while another has been covered with clay to manage smouldering.

Two further fires broke out in late 2025, which have since been smothered and suppressed. The EPA is continuing its investigation into the November 2025 fires.

Community advice

Smoke and odours, including from the November fires, have now been minimised.

If residents are experiencing any smoke and odour issues, please report them to the EPA’s Environment Line at [email protected].

EPA actions

The EPA is continuing to work closely with the licensee and has taken the following actions since December 2024:

  • Prosecuted Gunnedah Quarry Products Pty Ltd (GQP) for breaching its Environment Protection Licence by landfilling waste in a cell at the licensed premises without authorisation. On Monday, 4 May 2026, her Honour Judge O’Meagher of the Gunnedah Local Court ordered GQP to pay a $40,000 fine and $12,000 to cover the EPA’s legal costs.
  • Issued a Prevention Notice on 3 December 2025 requiring the Licensee to cease receiving waste in response to two November fires. The notice also requires a range of actions to reduce the risk of further fires and progress works on extinguishing waste fires that continue to smoulder.
  • Issued a Licence Variation on 2 June 2025 requiring additional safeguards and stronger operating controls be implemented across the entire site, including the landfill and resource recovery facility.
  • Issued a Clean Up Notice on 7 January 2025 requiring the owners to engage further independent advice on the status of the fire at that stage and provide a plan for fully extinguishing the fire. It also required an assessment of potential pollutants released by the fire and further damage to the waste cells.
  • Issued a Prevention Notice on 20 December 2024 requiring the landfill owners to suspend accepting waste for landfilling until a range of actions were completed to suppress the fire in waste cells.