RAAF Base Amberley

Latest updates

• August 2024 Community Consultation Session Posters (PDF, 7.46 MB)
• August 2024 Community Consultation Session Presentation (PDF, 2.55 MB)
• August 2024 Community Consultation Session Factsheet (PDF, 1.43 MB)

Investigations and findings

In September 2020, Defence completed detailed investigations into per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on and around RAAF Base Amberley.

Defence recognises that the PFAS contamination at RAAF Base Amberley is a significant issue for the local community. Defence is committed to working with the Queensland Government to manage, remediate and monitor 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.

Five source areas were identified where PFAS was found at levels requiring further study or action:

• the current fire training area
• the temporary soil stockpile area (soil storage area)
• wastewater holding tank for fire training area
• base sewerage treatment plant
• the former fire station.

Human Health Risk Assessment

As part of the investigations, Defence conducted two Human Health Risk Assessments. These assessments measured the PFAS exposure risks to people living, working and undertaking recreational activities within the management area.

The assessments found the PFAS contamination from RAAF Base Amberley has an elevated exposure risk to human health at some locations. More details on both risk assessments can be found in the Human Health Risk Assessment factsheets located under Recent reports and factsheets on this page.

Based on the findings and to support communities reduce their exposure to PFAS, the Queensland Government issued precautionary dietary advice. The Queensland Government advises not to eat fish caught from certain sectors of Swanbank Lake, Oaky Creek, specific areas of the Warrill and Bundamba creeks and the Bremer River.

In the coming months, Defence will undertake further sampling of fish and crustaceans within Ipswich waterways to provide Defence and the Queensland Government with an updated understanding of PFAS contamination.

Additional investigations

Defence conducted a PFAS movement assessment that tracks how and where PFAS are moving from the source areas and how many PFAS are leaving the base. The assessment found that PFAS moves off RAAF Base Amberley via surface water. These findings are being used to help identify the best remediation actions to reduce PFAS leaving RAAF Base Amberley.

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 Defence is taking to manage potential risks presented by PFAS.

Remediation actions are currently being finalised with works expected to begin in 2025.

Additionally, Defence is replacing the existing sewage treatment plant with a new system that will provide greater capacity and treatment performance, including PFAS treatment capability.

Ongoing monitoring

Monitoring of PFAS continues on and around RAAF Base Amberley through sampling of surface water, groundwater and sediment. Monitoring helps Defence understand if PFAS contamination is changing over time.

The results are published in an Ongoing Monitoring Report and factsheet. Defence will inform the community if changes to the management approach are required.

Monitoring results to date have found no significant changes to how PFAS are moving in the management area. The remedial works are expected to reduce PFAS moving off base, and over time this will contribute to the reduction of PFAS in the management area.

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. 

• 2021 – 2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report factsheet (PDF 936 KB)
• 2021 – 2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report (PDF 42.15 MB)
• PFAS Management Area Plan Report (PDF 34.1 MB)
• Human Health Risk Assessment Findings Factsheet (PDF 1 MB)
• Health Risk Assessment - Leichhardt Former Golf Course Area Factsheet - (PDF 1.4 MB)
• Ecological Risk Assessment Factsheet (PDF 1.5 MB)

Document archive

The RAAF Base Amberley document archive contains information that Defence has published about the management of PFAS, including older community presentations, investigation reports, risk assessments and factsheets.

Some archive information has been superseded by the recent reports and factsheets.

Document Archive - Amberley (PDF, 237.93 KB)

Last review: 11 March 2025