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© Allan Reinikka ARFirefighters conduct air quality tests on Glenmore Road
Rotten egg gas leaking from a sewer made 22 people ill, caused traffic chaos and closed businesses in North Rockhampton yesterday.

The alarm was raised about noon, when employees of businesses on Glenmore Road started complaining of headaches and nausea and were vomiting.

A number of workplaces on Glenmore Road between Dooley, Park and Robinson streets were evacuated as a precaution and employees were later sent home.

While paramedics treated those affected on scene, three people were taken to Rockhampton Hospital.

Police closed Glenmore Road at 1.50pm, causing delays and further difficulties as some heavy vehicles struggled to manoeuvre through traffic and back-street detours.

Glenmore Road was not re-opened until 5pm, when Rockhampton Regional Council engineers declared the area safe.

Lee King, co-owner of Andy's Auto Repairs in Dooley Street, said yesterday wasn't the first time she had noticed the smell.

"It's been around for about three weeks now. Some days were worse than others. It smells like rotten egg gas. It's awful," Ms King said.

Employees at Spanline noticed a strange smell in the area and contacted emergency services.

One man who was evacuated from his workplace said he and fellow employees had noticed a similar smell on Friday but the situation seemed to have worsened.

The smell was said to be emanating from the sewers along Glenmore Road, and Fitzroy River Water was called to address the situation. Chair of the Water Committee Councillor Greg Belz said an excessive level of hydrogen sulfide gas was evident in the sewer and Fitzroy River Water crews were working to locate the source.

"Council has strict rules and guidelines as to what can be discharged into the sewer - trade waste approvals are required for any legal discharges into the sewer that are of greater strength or volume than normal domestic waste.

"Such approvals ensure the safety of both the community and the sewerage system." Investigations are continuing and Rockhampton Regional Council representatives threatened legal action if illegal discharges were found to be the cause.