Jervis Bay Range Facility

Investigations and findings

In December 2019, Defence completed investigations into per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on and around the Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell.

Defence recognises that PFAS contamination from the Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell is a significant issue for the Jervis Bay and Wreck Bay communities. Defence is committed to working with local authorities to monitor, manage and remediate PFAS contamination in the area.

The investigations found that PFAS are mostly concentrated in areas where firefighting foams were previously disposed of, used or stored. These are called source areas. PFAS in these locations can be found in soil and in water flowing through the source areas. PFAS moves in surface water flowing through drains and creeks, or groundwater that flows underground through soil and rock.

Three primary source areas were found on the base where PFAS concentrations required further study or action:

• Royal Australian Navy School of Survivability and Ship Safety (RAN SSSS)
• Jervis Bay Range Facility former fire training area
• HMAS Creswell fire station.

The investigations also found that PFAS had accumulated in areas where firefighting foams had not previously been used or stored. These are called secondary source areas. PFAS have travelled from one of the primary source areas and over time collected in the soil and water within the secondary source areas.

Three secondary source areas were found where PFAS concentrations required further study or action:

• the wetland at the head waters of Mary Creek
• the former golf course on HMAS Creswell
• the HMAS Creswell Sewage Treatment Plant.

Drinking water at Jervis Bay is tested regularly by the Jervis Bay Territory Administration. The Jervis Bay drinking water results are released each month in the Jervis Bay community bulletins, published by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Human Health Risk Assessment

As part of the investigations, Defence conducted a Human Health Risk Assessment. This assessment measured the PFAS exposure risks to people living, working within and visiting Jervis Bay. The assessment found the PFAS contamination from Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell has an elevated exposure risk to human health at some locations. More details on Defence’s risk assessment, can be found in the Human Health Risk Assessment factsheet found under the Recent reports and factsheets section.

To support communities and reduce the risk of exposure to PFAS from Defence and other sources, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has released precautionary advice for users of waterways in the Jervis Bay Territory. The department advises Mary Creek is closed for all use and that the collection and eating of seafood from Summercloud Creek, Flatrock Creek and Captains Lagoon should be avoided.

Additional investigations

Defence conducted a PFAS movement assessment that tracks how and where PFAS are moving from source areas and how many PFAS are leaving the base. This will help to determine the best remediation actions to reduce the amount of PFAS leaving Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell.

Investigations at Mary Creek found that PFAS mainly moves off the base via surface water during wet weather events. Contaminated surface water and groundwater have also been found to be mixed in the swamps and wetlands located across the secondary source areas. This includes at the start of one of the rivers that flows to Mary Creek.

Remediation and management

The aim of remediation is to minimise PFAS leaving the base by focusing on the remediation and management of the source areas. Over time this will contribute to the reduction of PFAS in the management area. Defence has a PFAS Management Area Plan setting out the proposed remedial works and other management actions to manage potential risks presented by PFAS.

A remediation action plan for the northern catchments is currently being prepared. Planning is underway for additional infrastructure upgrades and remediation actions at the RAN SSSS.

Mary Creek catchment remediation

The remediation approach for the Mary Creek catchment is focused on reducing the amount of PFAS entering the creek. The following remediation actions are planned for the area and are expected to commence in the coming months:

• redirecting clean water around the source areas before it becomes contaminated
• capturing and treating PFAS contaminated water at the boundary of the base before it flows into Mary Creek. Treated water will be returned to maintain the natural water levels and minimise impact on the surrounding environment
• removing PFAS contaminated soil from targeted areas of the base
• capturing and treating PFAS contaminated groundwater beneath the RAN SSSS
• directing the captured surface and ground water to a new water treatment plant at the RAN SSSS.

Defence will continue to monitor the area to check if the remediation actions are effective, or if further action is necessary.

Temporary water treatment plant

In November 2022, Defence built a temporary water treatment plant near the southern boundary of the Jervis Bay Range Facility. This plant removes PFAS from surface water and reduces the amount of PFAS moving into the upper parts of Mary Creek. The volume of water that can be processed, depends on the amount of rainfall. When it is raining, up to 180 litres per minute can be treated. When it is not raining, the amount of water treated depends on how much water is flowing through the nearby drain. Testing results have not detected any PFAS, or have only detected PFAS at levels that are safe in accordance with the current drinking water guidelines.

This water treatment plant is temporary until the planned Mary Creek remediation works are completed, and the full scale water treatment plant at the RAN SSSS is operating. Construction of the full-scale water treatment plant is scheduled to commence in 2025.

The water treatment plants do not treat water that is part of the drinking supply for the Jervis Bay Territory.

Ongoing monitoring

Monitoring of PFAS continues on and around Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell through sampling of surface water, groundwater, sediment and tank water.

Monitoring helps Defence understand if PFAS contamination is changing over time. Results are published in an Ongoing Monitoring Report and factsheet. Defence will inform the community if changes to the management approach are required.

Recent reports and factsheets

Detailed reports from the PFAS Investigation and Management Program are available to download. Appendices to these reports can be found in the document archive. To discuss these reports, contact pfas.enquiry@defence.gov.au.

• February 2023 Community Information Session Presentation (PDF 1.5 MB)
• February 2023 Community Information Session Posters (PDF 3 MB)
• PFAS Management Area Plan and Ongoing Monitoring Plan Factsheet (PDF 368 KB)
• PFAS Management Area Plan (PDF 20.9 MB)
• Human Health Risk Assessment Factsheet (PDF 694 KB)
• Human Health Risk Assessment Report (PDF 39.2 MB)
• Ecological Risk Assessment Factsheet (PDF 1.1 MB)
• Ecological Risk Assessment Report (PDF 26.6 MB)
• Sampling of Lake Windermere and the Jervis Bay Territory water treatment plant - Factsheet (PDF 383 KB)

Water Treatment Plant reports

Reports from the management of Water Treatment Plants.

Water Treatment Plant Sampling Results Jervis Bay Range Facility (PDF, 924.51 KB)

Document archive

The Jervis Bay Range Facility and HMAS Creswell document archive contains information that Defence has published about the management of PFAS, including older community presentations, investigation reports, risk assessments and factsheets.

Some archived information has been superseded by recent reports and factsheets.

Documents Archive - Jervis Bay (PDF, 289.87 KB)

Last review: 7 March 2025