The owners of a multiple award-winning Far North Queensland dog treat manufacturing company are fearing bankruptcy after being forced to stop operating from their new Cairns factory.

All Fish For Dogs, which turns waste fish from the commercial fishing sector into pet treats, moved its operation from Mission Beach to Cairns earlier this year after winning a Queensland Government grant to expand export markets.

However, just weeks after sending shipments to new supermarket clients in Hong Kong and independent stores in the United States, owners Glen and Selena Murray were told by Cairns Regional Council to cease operations because of the smell.

“Originally, in June, they’d said we’d breached the Town Planning Act,” Glen told Tropic Now.

“We were headed to the appeals court, then in July they came in saying there were breaches under the EPA (Environmental Protection Act), that we were classed as an environmental nuisance.

"On top of the double filtration, we began investigating ways to further reduce the smell.

"We were looking at installing a fully-enclosed system recycling the air, a state of the art system, completely sealing the room along with three extra layers of filtration.

“We kept them informed of how we were working with different researchers to address it but we were told by an officer of the Council not to spend any more money on this.

"There was absolutely no negotiation and no mediation.

“We’re gutted, we're just hard working people trying to make our enterprise work.”

The couple said they believed they had done their due diligence, spending $5,000 for the services of a town planner to investigate the suitability of the premises, which is in Joan Street, Bungalow.

They’ve now taken on the services of an insolvency advisor, who is estimating the failed venture has left them almost half a million dollars out of pocket.

Glen and Selena remain unsure if they can re-start the business, which last financial year had a turnover of $2-million and employed 15 people.

“Our closure is affecting us greatly,” Selena said.

“There’s a good chance of us winding up bankrupt and homeless.

“We’re devastated we’re letting so many people down, including the people we supply and the people we purchase from.

“There are other businesses that are entirely dependent on our products, so their future is uncertain too.”

In an ironic twist, All Fish For Dogs has been nominated for two awards at this year’s Cairns Chamber of Commerce BEX awards, and one category is sponsored by the Council.

Since it began as a small start-up less than a decade ago, the business has been lauded for its sustainability and innovation, winning multiple awards and securing both Queensland and Federal Government grants.

“I was a commercial fisherman for over 20 years and saw the waste in the industry and this business gave a revenue source to something that was previously discarded,” Glen explained.

“We had so many plans, including medicinal products for dogs, and we’ve been working with scientists at Curtin University to treat things like arthritis using abalone.”

The couple say their only hope of staying afloat is to sell off a 60 per cent share to an interested investor.

“We’re not in a position to just reverse up and go back to Mission Beach,” Selena explained.

“We thought about moving to the heavy industrial area of Portsmith but the Council could give no guarantees that the same thing wouldn’t happen.”

Cairns Regional Council CEO Mica Martin said staff fielded many complaints about the odour emanating from the All Fish For Dogs facility.

“Authorised Council officers carried out multiple inspections over the period and determined that the odour being emitted as a result of All Fish for Dogs operations was causing an environmental nuisance, as described by the Act,” she said.

“As of 24 August 2022, Council has received 83 complaints.

“Council officers have been working extensively with the business owner over a period of time to assist them to understand their obligations and provide them with ample opportunity to implement odour mitigation measures at the property prior to the Direction Notice being issued.

“However, Council continued to receive complaints and on inspection, it was determined the odour was still causing a nuisance.”

She confirmed that businesses in the heavy industrial areas of Portsmith must also abide by the Environmental Protection Act.

“The business could potentially operate in a heavy industrial site in Portsmith, however this would not automatically negate the need to comply with the nuisance provisions of the EPA,” she said.

“If the odour was impacting on others, Council would investigate and take appropriate action if required.”

Ms Martin said Council is supportive of local manufacturing, as evident by its local procurement strategy, grant funding streams and economic development strategy.

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