❓ Question on Notice regarding PFAS contamination at and around the former Belmont Fire Training Facility, including residential properties and Centenary Park. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines investigation and consultation efforts, but no remediation works are currently planned.
AnsweredQoN 491Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice 271 and the contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater by chemicals known as per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances (PFAS), and the plume at and around the former Belmont Fire Training Facility, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware that PFAS are long-lived in the environment, and are known endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens; (b) have these substances been discovered on or under residential properties surrounding the former Belmont Fire Training Facility, or in Centenary Park, or the Belmont South Main Drain discharging into the Swan River; (c) if yes to (b), where have they been found and in what concentrations; (d) if yes to (c), how are the contaminated materials emanating from soil, groundwater and stormwater at the former Belmont Fire Training Facility, and present within the plume, being managed and or remediated; (e) when did Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) initiate the three separate PFAS soil and groundwater investigations in the former Belmont Fire Training Facility; (f) has DWER had any environmental and/or geotechnical investigations undertaken of this problem in the former Belmont Fire Training Facility; (g) have residents located within the PFAS plume (identified in the latest 2024 CDM Smith investigation) been alerted and given access to all the reports; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) have any restrictions been placed on the residents’ use of groundwater in this area; (j) will DWER create an online PFAS portal like most states already have; (k) has DFES carried out any remediation of the soils and groundwater in this area; and (l) if no to (k), are any remediation works planned in this location?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
7 days
(a) Yes. The persistence and adverse health effects of per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) are acknowledged by Government and form the basis for nationally agreed assessment levels applied by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Department of Health in the regulation of PFAS contamination issues.
(b) PFAS has been found in the soil and groundwater at residential properties located at 58 and 74 Hardey Road, in groundwater at Centenary Park and in surface water in the drain on Abernethy Road. Investigations by environmental consultants on behalf of Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are ongoing to delineate the extent of PFAS impacts.
(c) PFAS was found in soils at 58 and 74 Hardey Road, at concentrations exceeding human health investigation levels for residential soils as published in PFAS National Environmental Management Plan Version 2.0 (PFAS NEMP 2.0) which were the relevant assessment criteria at the time. PFAS in the groundwater at Centenary Park was present in concentrations that exceeded health-based guidance for drinking water, non-potable use, recreational use and the freshwater guidelines for 95 per cent protection criteria as published in NEMP 2.0. One surface water sample in the drain exceeded the freshwater 99 per cent protection guideline as per NEMP 2.0.
(d) Environmental consultants have carried out community consultation programs in the local area and provided advice on how to manage PFAS impacts and potential impacts in advance of a remediation and/or management strategy being developed and approved advice being given. DWER has advised residents at 58 and 74 Hardey Road to allow for analytical testing to determine whether groundwater is suitable for its intended use. As part of the community consultation program, an environmental consultant will provide advice to affected site owners on suitable uses of groundwater.
(e) The DFES initiated the investigations.
(f) Pursuant to the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 , the DFES has undertaken several rounds of environmental investigations at the site and the surrounding area.
(g) The residential properties identified as affected are classified under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 as ‘possibly contaminated – investigation required’ and have been informed of the conditions at their site by DWER. Investigations were conducted with reference to the State and National guidelines that required appropriate community consultation to be undertaken. The engaged environmental consultant consulted with residents at the affected properties, 58 and 74 Hardey Road, including advising on implications of PFAS investigation findings. Access to reports can be obtained from DWER via a detailed summary of records request. DevelopmentWA is the nominated project manager for DFES. Reports have been provided when requested by impacted parties.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) No. Residents have been advised not to use their groundwater to irrigate consumable crops.
(j) Since 1 December 2006, identified and reported known or suspected contaminated sites have been recorded under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 either on the free, publicly available contaminated sites database or on the register of contaminated sites administered by DWER. To avoid duplication, PFAS impacts will continue to be recorded in this manner.
(k)-(l) DWER understands that there are no currently planned remediation works as the site and surrounding area are subject to ongoing investigations to delineate the impacts and establish any potential risks to human health, the environment or any environmental value.
(b) PFAS has been found in the soil and groundwater at residential properties located at 58 and 74 Hardey Road, in groundwater at Centenary Park and in surface water in the drain on Abernethy Road. Investigations by environmental consultants on behalf of Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are ongoing to delineate the extent of PFAS impacts.
(c) PFAS was found in soils at 58 and 74 Hardey Road, at concentrations exceeding human health investigation levels for residential soils as published in PFAS National Environmental Management Plan Version 2.0 (PFAS NEMP 2.0) which were the relevant assessment criteria at the time. PFAS in the groundwater at Centenary Park was present in concentrations that exceeded health-based guidance for drinking water, non-potable use, recreational use and the freshwater guidelines for 95 per cent protection criteria as published in NEMP 2.0. One surface water sample in the drain exceeded the freshwater 99 per cent protection guideline as per NEMP 2.0.
(d) Environmental consultants have carried out community consultation programs in the local area and provided advice on how to manage PFAS impacts and potential impacts in advance of a remediation and/or management strategy being developed and approved advice being given. DWER has advised residents at 58 and 74 Hardey Road to allow for analytical testing to determine whether groundwater is suitable for its intended use. As part of the community consultation program, an environmental consultant will provide advice to affected site owners on suitable uses of groundwater.
(e) The DFES initiated the investigations.
(f) Pursuant to the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 , the DFES has undertaken several rounds of environmental investigations at the site and the surrounding area.
(g) The residential properties identified as affected are classified under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 as ‘possibly contaminated – investigation required’ and have been informed of the conditions at their site by DWER. Investigations were conducted with reference to the State and National guidelines that required appropriate community consultation to be undertaken. The engaged environmental consultant consulted with residents at the affected properties, 58 and 74 Hardey Road, including advising on implications of PFAS investigation findings. Access to reports can be obtained from DWER via a detailed summary of records request. DevelopmentWA is the nominated project manager for DFES. Reports have been provided when requested by impacted parties.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) No. Residents have been advised not to use their groundwater to irrigate consumable crops.
(j) Since 1 December 2006, identified and reported known or suspected contaminated sites have been recorded under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 either on the free, publicly available contaminated sites database or on the register of contaminated sites administered by DWER. To avoid duplication, PFAS impacts will continue to be recorded in this manner.
(k)-(l) DWER understands that there are no currently planned remediation works as the site and surrounding area are subject to ongoing investigations to delineate the impacts and establish any potential risks to human health, the environment or any environmental value.
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