RAAF Base East Sale

Latest updates

Important information for communities around RAAF Base East Sale.

• 2021-2022 Ongoing Monitoring Report (PDF, 98.97 MB)
• 2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report (PDF, 114.91 MB)
• 2021-2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report Factsheet (PDF, 696.29 KB)

Investigations and findings

In August 2018, Defence completed detailed investigations into per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on and around RAAF Base East Sale. Defence is committed to working with the Victorian 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 at 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.

Four areas were found at RAAF Base East Sale where PFAS concentrations required further study or action:

• maintenance areas in the north-west
• the former and current fire stations
• the waste burial areas and former fire training areas to the south-east
• grassy area near the runway.

Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment

As part of the investigations, Defence conducted a Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment. This assessment measured the PFAS exposure risks to people living, working and undertaking recreational activities within the management area and to local plant and animal life. In 2024, Defence reviewed this assessment using current monitoring data and confirmed the PFAS exposure risks to the community remain unchanged. More details on Defence’s risk assessments can be found in the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment factsheet under the Recent reports and factsheets section.

To support communities to reduce their exposure to PFAS, the Environment Protection Authority Victoria issued precautionary consumption advice for fish and duck.

Additional investigations

Defence conducted a PFAS movement assessment that tracks how and where PFAS are moving from, and how much PFAS are leaving the base. The assessment found that PFAS mainly moves off the base through surface water during large wet weather events. The assessment also found contaminated surface water and groundwater have been mixing within the large drains that flow across the base and into the Heart Morass.

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 for RAAF Base East Sale setting out the proposed remedial works and other management actions to manage potential risks presented by PFAS.

Across 2023 – 2024, Defence transported over 24,000 tonnes of PFAS contaminated soil to a licenced treatment facility in Dandenong for thermal destruction. Defence is currently removing an additional 10,850 tonnes of PFAS contamination soil for treatment at the same facility. These soils had been stored on base in a secure location following several construction activities.

Defence is currently preparing a remediation action plan for RAAF Base East Sale. This plan will help identify additional management actions to limit PFAS from leaving the base and to reduce PFAS exposure to people and the local environment.

Ongoing monitoring

Monitoring of PFAS continues on and around RAAF Base East Sale 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.

Remedial works are expected to reduce PFAS from leaving the 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.

• PFAS Management Area Plan Factsheet (PDF 486 KB)
• PFAS Management Area Plan Report (PDF 7.6 MB)
• Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Factsheet (PDF, 397 KB)

Document archive

The RAAF Base East Sale 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.

Documents Archive - East Sale (PDF, 227.43 KB)

Last review: 6 March 2025