Canberra

Various entities have provided aviation rescue and fire fighting services at Canberra Airport since the early 1960s. Airservices has provided these services at the airport since 1995.

PFAS and fire fighting foam

PFAS stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, which are manufactured chemicals used in products that resist heat, oil, stains and water. They have been widely used since the 1950s in common household products, as well as commercial industrial applications such as fire fighting foams.

When Airservices became aware of the potential environmental impacts of PFAS in the early 2000s, we transitioned away from their use. We have used PFAS-free foam at Canberra Airport since 2010.

Site investigations

As part of Airservices' National PFAS Management Program, we are undertaking site investigations to determine the nature and extent of PFAS at Canberra Airport. Site investigations have included sampling of soil, groundwater and surface water, using adopted criteria for ecological and human health to assess the levels of PFAS. On-site investigations included the main fire station and fire training ground.

We completed a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) in 2019. The PSI detected PFAS on-airport, near our leased sites. PFAS concentrations in soil were above the adopted ecological criteria, but below the adopted human health criteria, at the fire training ground. Groundwater and surface water samples exceeded both the adopted human health and ecological criteria.

We are currently undertaking a Detailed Site investigation (DSI), and this is expected to be completed in 2025.

Site management and remediation

We manage legacy PFAS through our National PFAS Management Program to ensure the safety of our people and the communities and environment in which we operate.

At Canberra Airport, we have cleaned the underground stormwater pipes located at our facilities and have also installed a waste-water treatment plant at the fire station.

The information obtained from the DSI will inform next steps in the management or remediation of our sites at Canberra Airport.

We collaborate with relevant Australian Government and Territory environmental and health regulators and Canberra Airport as part of an evidence-led approach to the responsible management of PFAS.