Department of Defence says it will take 12 months for deeper investigation into RAAF Base Wagga's chemical contamination

In June last year, samples from around the Wagga base tested positive for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), ingredients of a firefighting foam that was used by several agencies, including the RAAF, from the 1970s to 2008.

The chemicals are highly persistent, have been shown to be toxic to fish and some animals and can accumulate in the bodies of fish, animals and people who come into contact with them.

However, the levels detected in Wagga are nowhere near those seen at other bases such as the one at Williamtown, near Newcastle, where they were 70 times higher than NSW Environment Protection Authority standards.

Kevin Kerr from the Forest Hill Progress Association said he was glad Defence was taking a closer look.

“The levels (of PFOS and PFOA) are very low, but they’re there and they take a long time to break down,” Mr Kerr said.

“As I understand, where they dug and found evidence of the chemical, they’re going to radiate out from there see if any spots are any worse.

“At least we’ll know where we stand, but it could be up to a year to get definitive results.”

Mr Kerr, a retired member of the RAAF, pointed out it wasn’t the only organisation to use the firefighting foam.

“It was used worldwide, it’s just that the RAAF did the investigation first and everyone’s tried to blame them,” he said. “Others could have added to the contamination… it could be a long and costly clean up.”

Defence has been proactive in initiating an environmental program to investigate the nature and extent of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), on and in the vicinity of RAAF Base Wagga.

Preliminary sampling was conducted at RAAF Base Wagga on 15 June 2016. A total of five samples were collected from off-base locations in the vicinity of RAAF Base Wagga – three groundwater and two surface water samples. No on-base samples were collected. PFAS was detected in one of the ground water samples as well as in both of the surface water samples.

Details of the Preliminary Sampling Program at RAAF Base Wagga including analytical results for PFAS can be found at:

http://www.defence.gov.au/id/PFOSPFOA/_master/docs/PSPReports/PSPWagga.pdf (see table 8 page 14)

Copies of the Preliminary Sampling Program report were provided to the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Wagga City Council.

Currently there are no residents receiving alternative drinking water in the vicinity of RAAF Base Wagga as they do not rely on bore water for domestic purposes  and have access to town or rain water.Residents are welcome to contact Defence’s PFAS national hotline on 1800 365 414 to discuss eligibility for water assistance.

A detailed environmental investigation will commence in May 2017 at RAAF Base Wagga. This will be conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM) framework. Following commencement, the investigation will take approximately 12 months to complete.