Camden Airport

Site investigation

  • Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd is the contaminated land specialist leading the Program investigation at Camden Airport.
  • The Program investigation at Camden Airport commenced in March 2024 and is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete.
  • The investigation will address potential sources of PFAS at the airport, as well as potential migration pathways to receptors both on and off airport.
  • An accredited contaminated land auditor has been engaged by the department to independently audit the investigation to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, national guidance and best practice.
  • The department is engaging with relevant state agencies to support the review of key investigation reports and plans.
  • Airport participation in the Program is voluntary. Camden Airport signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the department to join the Program on 15 March 2023.
PFAS Airports Investigation Program (Tranche 2) CamdenAirport

Previous investigations

  • In 2020, an independent Human Health & Environmental Risk Assessment at Camden Airport, commissioned by airport operator Aeria Management Group, found no risk issues of concern in relation to potential PFAS exposure at the airport.
  • More information is available on the Aeria Management Group website.
  • The PFAS Airport Investigation Program will consider previous assessments undertaken at the airport and may conduct a Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment informed by new evidence or identified risks.

Where is the investigation up to?

  • The Camden Airport investigation will include a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI), Sampling Analysis and Quality Plan (SAQP) and Detailed Site Investigation (DSI).
  • The PSI report and the DSI SAQP have been prepared by the contaminated land specialist and are pending review by the contaminated land auditor and the department. The DSI SAQP sets out the scope of works both on and off the airport to assess the nature and extent of PFAS in the environment.
  • The investigation's focus will be sampling and analysis on airport land to determine the nature and extent of PFAS in various media including soil and groundwater. This will include assessment of potential migration pathways between the airport and surrounding potential receptors.

Next steps

  • Once the PSI and DSI SAQP have been approved, fieldworks associated with the DSI will commence in 2025.
  • Following fieldworks, a Detailed Site Investigation Report will summarise investigation outcomes and identify and recommend next steps.
  • A Mass Flux Study and Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment may be conducted if investigations identify they are required.
  • Investigations will inform the development of a PFAS Management Plan for Camden Airport that will document the approach to managing risks associated with PFAS contamination at the airport.

Additional information

Contact information

Last updated 2 December 2024