Alice Springs

Various entities have provided aviation rescue and fire fighting services at Alice Springs Airport since 1964. 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 Alice Springs 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 Alice Springs Airport.

We completed preliminary sampling in 2017 and a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) in 2019. 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.

The PSI identified the main PFAS source areas as the fire training ground, including surrounding soil piles, and the main fire station. PFAS detections in soils in the vicinity of the fire training ground exceeded the adopted ecological criteria. The PSI detected PFAS in surface water samples but noted there is limited potential for surface water to migrate off-site. 

We are currently undertaking a Targeted Site investigation (TSI) and it is expected to be completed in 2024. We designed the TSI to further characterise PFAS associated with our aviation fire fighting facilities at Alice Springs Airport, including associated drainage and discharge channels/points and stockpiled soils at the fire training ground.

We will undertake a Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) if more information is required.

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.

The information obtained from the TSI will inform next steps in the management or remediation of our sites at Alice Springs Airport.

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