Latest updates
Important information for communities around Robertson Barracks.
2021 – 2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report – May 2024 (PDF, 831.35 KB)
2021 - 2023 Ongoing Monitoring Report Factsheet – May 2024 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Investigations and findings
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.
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.
The investigations found that risks to people, plants and animals resulting from PFAS exposure were low. More detail on Defence’s risk assessments can be found in the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment factsheet.
Remediation and management
Defence has developed a PFAS Management Area Plan for Robertson Barracks, which sets out management actions to reduce potential risks presented by PFAS.
Defence’s PFAS Management Area Plan for Robertson Barracks was informed by the outcomes of the investigations and reflects the low risk identified. The management plan recommended that monitoring of PFAS should continue. Treating or removing PFAS from the area is not a recommendation of the management plan, given the low risk identified.
Ongoing monitoring
Monitoring of PFAS continues through sampling of surface water, groundwater and sediment. Monitoring helps Defence understand if PFAS contamination in the local area is changing over time and informs the PFAS Management Area Plan.
Results are published in an Annual 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 program are available to download. To discuss these reports contact pfas.enquiry@defence.gov.au.
- 2021 Interpretive Report – January 2024 (PDF, 28.63 MB)
- 2021 Interpretive Report factsheet – January 2024 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Ongoing Monitoring Interpretative Report Update - Jul 2021 factsheet (PDF 777 KB)
- 2020 Ongoing Monitoring Interpretive Report - Dec 2021 (PDF 34.3 MB)
- PFAS Management Area Plan (PMAP) Update - Aug 2018 factsheet (PDF 0.7 MB)
- PFAS Management Area Plan - Nov 2018 (PDF 6.4 MB)
- Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Findings - Aug 2018 factsheet (PDF 490 KB)
Document archive
The document archive contains information that Defence has published since 2016.
This includes:
- older community presentations,
- investigation reports,
- risk assessments and
- factsheets.
Some archive information has been superseded by the recent reports and factsheets.
Documents Archive - Robertson (PDF, 214.62 KB)
Last review: 15 May 2024