The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts and environmental consultants Senversa are preparing for the annual monitoring of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on Norfolk Island.
The department continues to monitor and manage PFAS on Norfolk Island related to the historical use of firefighting foam at the airport.
Senversa was first commissioned by the Australian Government to complete a comprehensive PFAS environmental investigation after elevated levels of PFAS were detected within the Mission Creek catchment directly below the aviation fire services training drill ground, adjacent to Norfolk Island International Airport in December 2019. All reports are publicly available on the departmental website (https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/norfolk-island/pfas).
To broaden the annual monitoring program, this year the department is expanding the monitoring assessments, including potential impacts of PFAS contaminated water on livestock and re-testing of some sites to take into account the recent updates to PFAS drinking water guidelines.
The next monitoring event is scheduled for November. Senversa will directly contact Norfolk Island landholders and cattle owners about the next round of assessments and access to properties.
We will keep the community informed as the monitoring and reporting process progresses throughout 2025.
