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 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.

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.

In December 2023, in response to evidence collected under our PFAS DSI, Airservices proactively started planning to remediate legacy PFAS impacts at our fire training ground.

Remediation plans for both the fire training ground and the main fire station were finalised as part of the requirements of an Environmental Remediation Order issued to Airservices by the Airport Environment Officer (AEO) in March 2024. The plans have been assessed by an Independent Assessor appointed under the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 and accepted by the AEO. The plans form the basis of the remediation works Airservices will undertake.

The remediation of the fire training ground and main fire station will involve the excavation of approximately 12,000 cubic meters of soil to remediate an estimated 300 kg of residual PFAS mass. Excavated soil will either be lawfully disposed off-airport or treated and reinstated within the excavation.

In addition to the soil remediation works, Airservices is currently undertaking an exploratory phase of groundwater extraction and treatment at the main fire station. This initial phase will be used to explore the feasibility of a longer-term groundwater treatment program.

Airservices Australia is currently progressing a number of regulatory approvals, including those required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) (subject to existing referral) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works prior to commencing with this remediation project. Once these approvals have been received, we will expedite the activities under the remediation plan. The remediation works are expected to take 6-12 months.

All remediation works will be conducted entirely within the airport boundary and will be subject to appropriate environmental and safety controls. No impacts on members of the public are expected to occur during the works.