❓ Question on Notice regarding PFAS contamination at and around the former Belmont Fire Training Facility, including potential impacts on residents and the environment. The Minister for Emergency Services deferred the questions to the Minister for Environment.
AnsweredQoN 271Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to 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 Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) initiate the three separate PFAS soil and groundwater investigations in the former Belmont Fire Training Facility; (f) has DFES 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 DFES 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?
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 Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) initiate the three separate PFAS soil and groundwater investigations in the former Belmont Fire Training Facility; (f) has DFES 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 DFES 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
12 August 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
6 days
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are unable to provide a response as these questions fall under the responsibility the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. The member may wish to refer the questions to the Minister for Environment.
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