Canberra Airport

Site investigation

  • Jacobs Australia Pty Ltd is the contaminated land specialist leading the Program investigation at Canberra Airport.
  • The Program investigation at Canberra Airport commenced on 1 July 2023 and is anticipated to take approximately three 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 from Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd has been engaged by the department to independently audit the investigation to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, national guidance and best practice.
  • To support the review of key investigation reports and plans, an Investigation Consultation Forum (ICF) has been formed. The ICF members include the department, the contaminated land specialist, the accredited contaminated land auditor, the Airport and relevant state agencies.
  • Airport participation in the Program is voluntary. Canberra Airport signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the department to join the Program on 10 January 2022.
  • Canberra Airport participated in the Pilot program which concluded on 30 June 2023.
Terrain map of Canberra Airport showing an outline of the airport boundary and the PFAS program.

Where is the investigation up to?

  • The Canberra Airport investigation includes a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI), Mass Flux Study and a Detailed Site Investigation (DSI). The PSI was completed in 2023 under the Pilot program with the Sampling Analysis and Quality Plans (SAQP) completed in May 2025.
  • The PSI report and the SAQP were finalised following review by the ICF members.
  • The investigation's focus will be sampling and analysis on airport land to determine the nature and extent of PFAS various media including soil and groundwater. This will include assessment of potential migration pathways between the airport and surrounding potential receptors.
  • Fieldworks associated with the airport site are ongoing.

Next steps

  • Following fieldworks, a Mass Flux Study Report and DSI Report will summarise investigation outcomes and identify and recommend next steps.
  • A Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment may be conducted if investigations identify it is required.
  • The investigations will inform the development of a PFAS Management Plan for Canberra Airport that will outline the recommended management options to address any identified elevated risk of exposure to PFAS to human health and/or the environment.

Additional information

  • The proposed investigation and assessment will consider and complement ongoing investigation by Airservices Australia to assess PFAS contamination within their leased areas.
  • 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 Jacobs Australia to provide information about the investigation:

Last updated January 2026