Site Investigation
- Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd is the contaminated land specialist leading the Program investigation at Mount Isa Airport.
- The Program investigation at Mount Isa 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. Mount Isa Airport signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the department to join the Program on 11 July 2023.
Image
Where is the Investigation up to?
- The Mount Isa 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 department and contaminated land auditor. 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 Mount Isa Airport that will document the approach to managing risks associated with PFAS contamination at the airport.
Additional information
- Answers to other questions on PFAS and the PFAS Airports Investigation Program can be found on our website here: PFAS—your questions answered.
Contact information
- An information line and email have been established by Aurecon to provide information about the investigation:
- Community information line: 1800 978 725
- Email: MountIsaAirport.PFAS@aurecongroup.com
Last updated 11 November 2024