As Wodonga waits to learn the extent of PFAS contamination from the Bandiana military base, the NSW government has requested further action in Deniliquin.
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In our region, PFAS levels are being monitored at the Wangaratta Regional Training Facility, Thales in Mulwala and the Fire and Rescue NSW training facility at the Deniliquin Airport.
At the latter, consultants GHD have found elevated levels of PFAS on-site “unlikely to represent an unacceptable risk” to human health, but recommended it be determined if nearby properties were used for agriculture.
On-site groundwater tested in June 2017 contained 10.7 micrograms of PFOS per litre, 82 times the recommended level (of 0.13 ug/L).
The consultants identified this water could “possibly” discharge to Aljoes Creek or Edward River, both within three kilometres of the site, but due to concentration decreasing at distance it was deemed “unlikely” to present a risk to either waterway.
There was no PFAS detected in one sample from the nearby Mulwala Canal, and in soil samples concentration of chemicals was “less than the nominated human health assessment criteria”.
A NSW EPA spokeswoman said investigations had determined “that potential agricultural impacts from PFAS contamination are unlikely”.
“However, the NSW Government is taking a precautionary approach and FRNSW are currently in the process of planning further investigations,” she said.
“These results will be considered by the NSW PFAS Taskforce in conjunction with results from the water use survey, which has been conducted to determine if individual landowners around the site may come into contact with PFAS.
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“If required, the Taskforce will provide tailored advice for residents, to help them manage any potential PFAS exposure pathways.”
The spokeswoman said the EPA had “requested Thales to undertake further PFAS assessment” at their site.
Elevated concentrations of PFAS in soil and shallow groundwater have been found at the Thales Munitions Plant in Mulwala, likely as a result of the automatic fire fighting system being activated in the past.
The EPA states PFAS detects are “contained on site and there is no risk to the wider community”.
At Wangaratta, where like Deniliquin fire-fighting foam containing PFAS was historically used, a “very low” level of PFOS was detected in an observation bore near the site, not currently in use.
EPA Victoria states PFAS has not been found in Three Milk Creek or in drinking water for surrounding areas, and testing around the site continues.
Wangaratta is one of seven CFA regional training centres being investigated, and Deniliquin is one of six FRNSW sites across NSW in focus.
A spokeswoman said FRNSW would work with environmental consultants to address the points identified in the GHD Deniliquin report.
“FRNSW recently conducted a meeting with its consultants to prioritise actions across all its properties impacted by PFAS.
“We will continue to work closely with and be guided by the NSW EPA in managing the potential impacts of PFAS across the (Deniliquin) site.
“FRNSW together with our environmental consultants will undertake activities to address the areas identified in the report.”
GHD consultants recommended in the environmental assessment of the Deniliquin site:
- Further investigation into the land use of the surrounding properties to assess thepotential for agricultural use (particularly stock for human consumption) and water use habits. If stock used for human consumption are determined to be present, a preliminary site specific risk assessment would be required, possibly including the derivation of soil assessment criterion for human health under a rural land use scenario.
- Further investigation of water use could be conducted to better characterise groundwater and surface water use at properties surrounding the site and along the drainage channel lines.
- Further investigation of other potential sources in the area e.g. Deniliquin Freighters and the airport.
- Consideration of institutional/management controls for adjacent properties to mitigate the risk posed by sediment exceeding the indirect agricultural guidelines. These controls could include minimising the use of vacant properties for stock/crops, and would be addressed as part of the remedial options appraisal for this site.
Edward River Mayor Norm Brennan says those recommendations would need to be addressed for future development to be considered at the council-owned Deniliquin airport.
“If we were having thoughts of development there, we would need to have a clean bill of health,” he said.
“The latest report done by GHD certainly highlights a couple things council definitely need to have a look at.
“It appears from the statistics it’s very localised, so it hasn’t spread too far.”
Mr Brennan said there was a long history at the FRNSW site, which was was used as a station for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.
“What we know now is not what we knew 40 years ago,” he said.
“Within the airport boundary there has not been to my knowledge stock grazing, but there has been leasing of the land for some dry-land cropping over the years.
“That would be away from where the affected area is.”
“The problem has been identified and between the authorities, we will come up with a regime.”
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