Residents want more action taken against a leaky dump near Brisbane.

A new report has found contaminated water flowing from the dump in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, contains dangerous chemicals that are leaking into nearby rivers.

The Cleanaway New Chum Solid Waste Landfill facility not allowed to let water to flow out of ponds at the northernmost point of the site.

However, the company has been fined twice by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) for breaching the directive this year alone. The fines total $26,690.

The report, titled “New Chum waste management facility — addendum environmental report”, was commissioned by Cleanaway and completed by Epic Environment, according to the ABC. 

It reportedly confirms that the water also contains more PFAS than is considered safe.

PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals, are associated with a multitude of health risks, from low infant birth weights to cancer.

It is a persistent threat, often taking years to break down once in soils and waterways.

Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) says it is taking Cleanaway's breaches very seriously.

“DES issued Cleanaway with an Environmental Evaluation on 21 November 2019 which required them to investigate the sources and extent of PFAS at the site and provide a report including recommendations to prevent, or minimise further releases,” a spokesperson said.

“The department will consider if further statutory action is required to manage PFAS at the site and will continue to engage with Cleanaway on this matter.”

Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments (IRATE) secretary Geoff Yarham said the fines are just a slap on the wrist for the company.

“If the public and the local authorities are complaining, you would think you'd get up and get off your backside and do something and manage it properly,” Mr Yarham said.

“They're not managing it correctly as per their Environmental Authority.

“The concept is to manage the ponds so water shouldn't actually exit the site and contaminate the environment.

Ipswich takes 42 per cent of Queensland's waste, and the city’s mayor Teresa Harding says “we see little to no benefit”. 

Mr Yarham said the state government needs to be stronger.

“The Ipswich City Council can't do anything about it,” he said.

“All the waste companies are managed and overseen by the state government.

“Even though the Queensland Government claims they have a very strong regulatory environment, that is not the fact.

“When it comes to enforcement it is as weak as dishwater.”