Fears groundwater contamination at Edinburgh RAAF base has spread as far as St Kilda

THE Defence Department is investigating whether groundwater and soil contamination from the Edinburgh RAAF base has reached wider parts of Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

• JUNE 2016: Toxins from RAAF base leach into groundwater
• NOVEMBER 2016: Nationwide defence base contamination crisis
• OCTOBER 2017: Dangerous contamination in water near RAAF
• NOVEMBER 2017: Toxins found in soil at Edinburgh RAAF base
• APRIL 2018: Defence takes another 500 ground samples

THE Defence Department is investigating whether groundwater and soil contamination emanating from the Edinburgh RAAF base has reached as far as St Kilda.

The department has widened its inquiry into perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination at the base and on surrounding properties as a result of toxin detections uncovered so far.

Defence will hold a community information session on Thursday to provide an update on the investigation.

It comes as the Federal Health Department released the results of its inquiry into the health effects of the contaminants.

It confirmed the toxins could cause a range of issues, including reduced kidney function, lower birth weights, alterations in immune response, increased cholesterol and uric acid in the blood, altered levels of thyroid and sex hormones and early menopause.

It also acknowledged that although there was “no current evidence that suggests an increase in overall cancer risk”, the chemicals had a “possible link” to an increased risk of testicular and kidney cancer.

The Defence Department began collecting and testing soil, groundwater, surface-water and sediment samples from the base and nearby council-owned and private land in April last year as part of its investigation.

The department has now widened the investigation area to include parts of St Kilda, Bolivar, Waterloo Corner, Penfield, Direk, Burton, Salisbury North and Paralowie.

St Kilda Development and Tourism Association chairman Lindsay Virgo was “not impressed” but not surprised that toxins from the RAAF base may have travelled to St Kilda.

St Kilda Development and Tourism Association chairman Lindsay Virgo at the St Kilda playground. Picture: Calum Robertson

“If they’re looking at Waterloo Corner and Edinburgh Park, you've got to say in your own mind that the water tables are connected and therefore there is every possibility that the water further on would, in turn, be contaminated,” he said.

Another St Kilda resident, 70, who did not wish to be identified, said it was “scary” to think the contamination could have reached her suburb.

Meanwhile, Adelaide Zoo has moved to allay concerns that it may be feeding contaminated bamboo to its pandas Wang Wang and Funi.
The zoo sources its bamboo from an SA Water-owned property on St Kilda Rd, Waterloo Corner, but a spokeswoman told The Advertiser the site does not use any groundwater or bore water to irrigate the property.

PFOS and PFOA does not break down in the environment and has been detected on the base and in two nearby wetlands. It was used in firefighting foams used at the Edinburgh RAAF base until 2004.

Community forum

Defence will hold a community “walk-in” session to update concerned residents about the inquiry at the John McVeity Centre, 182 Peachey Rd, Smithfield Plains, on Thursday from 12pm-6.30pm.

There will be no formal presentation but defence staff, environment experts and representatives from other key government departments will be available to answer questions from members of the community.