RAAF Base Richmond

Latest updates

Important information for communities around RAAF Base Richmond.

2021-2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report - May 2024 (PDF, 53.95 MB)

Remediation and monitoring update – Aug 2023 factsheet (PDF, 1023.65 KB)

Community consultation session posters – Aug 2023 (PDF, 3.96 MB)

Community consultation session presentation – Aug 2023 (PDF, 5.14 MB)

On Tuesday 22 August 2023, Defence held 2 community walk-in information sessions to provide the local community with an update on remediation and management activities and the ongoing monitoring of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on and around RAAF Base Richmond.

The event was attended by the Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Defence, and Ms Susan Templeman MP, Member for Macquarie, where they met with the local community to hear their concerns.

Any questions relating to the past event, please email defence.omp@aecom.com or call 0499 888 783.

Investigations and findings

In November 2018, Defence completed investigations into PFAS contamination on and around RAAF Base Richmond.

Defence recognises that the PFAS contamination at RAAF Base Richmond is a significant issue for the local community. Defence continues to work with the New South Wales (NSW) Government to manage, remediate and monitor PFAS contamination in the area.

The investigations found that PFAS is mostly concentrated in areas where firefighting foams were previously used, stored or disposed. These are called source areas. The 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.

Four source areas were identified where PFAS was found in soil or groundwater at concentrations that required further study or action:

  • the former fire training area and airfield foam cannon testing area
  • the sewage treatment plant
  • hangar 54 and fire station building
  • fuel farm 2, tanker parking area (former fuel farm 1) and working area.

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 and undertaking recreational activities within the management area.

Based on the findings of the investigations, the NSW Environment Protection Authority has released precautionary dietary advice to residents in the area. This advice is related to eating home-grown produce which was grown in PFAS contaminated soils, or where contaminated groundwater or surface water from Bakers Lagoon and associated creeks are being used.

More detail on Defence’s risk assessments, can be found in the Human Health Risk Assessment factsheet.

Additional investigations

Defence conducted a Mass Flux Assessment that tracks how and where PFAS is moving from the source areas and how much PFAS is leaving the base. This study helps determine the best remediation actions to reduce the amount of PFAS moving off RAAF Base Richmond.

The investigations found that PFAS mainly moves off base through surface water drains to the east of the base. Surface water that runs through the top layer of soil was identified as one of the greatest ongoing sources of PFAS contamination.

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 Richmond setting out the proposed remedial works and other management actions to manage potential risks presented by PFAS.

Soil remediation

As most PFAS moves through surface water at RAAF Base Richmond, the remedial works focus on addressing PFAS in the top layer of soils.

Soil remedial works at the former fire training area was completed in 2021. Further soil remediation works are planned for the fire station building, the foam canon testing area and additional aircraft taxiways areas near the fire training area. These will be conducted in late 2023 and early 2024.

Groundwater remediation

Although PFAS was found to mainly move off the base through surface water, investigations also identified elevated PFAS concentrations in groundwater on the northern boundary of the base.

The outcomes of a groundwater assessment determined that this contributed to less than 10% of PFAS contamination moving off the base when compared to surface water, and the impacts were likely the result of a spill of PFAS containing foams near the foam test facility. Some minor groundwater remedial works will be conducted and is expected to commence in late 2023.

Ongoing monitoring

Monitoring of PFAS continues 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 Interpretive 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 are available for download. Appendices to these reports can be found in the document archive. To discuss these reports contact pfas.enquiry@defence.gov.au.

Document archive

The RAAF Base Richmond 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 - Richmond (PDF, 221.55 KB)

Last review: 21 May 2023