PFAS warning: Banned chemical found in all edible fish samples from Bremer River, Warrill Creek

TOXIC chemicals were detected in every edible fish caught near Amberley RAAF base as part of a Defence investigation into a banned firefighting foam – but the department still failed to notify residents of the dangers.

The Defence Department failed to notify Ipswich residents after it detected banned chemicals in fish, leaving it up to Queensland Health to issue a warning.

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TOXIC chemicals were detected in every edible fish caught near Amberley RAAF base as part of a Defence Department investigation into a banned firefighting foam.

Despite 19 of the 24 fish samples caught in April exceeding food safety trigger levels for the foam – which has been linked to cancer, immune suppression and reduced fertility – the Defence Department failed to notify local residents who only found out last Friday when Queensland Health issued an emergency alert.

Recreational fishers were warned to not eat any fish caught from the Bremer River or Warrill Creek, which both run near the base, west of Brisbane.

The toxic firefighting foam has been linked to cancer, immune suppression and reduced fertility. Picture: CRC Care

A Defence spokeswoman confirmed firefighting foam chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) were detected in every fish, including perch, mullet, eel, catfish and prawns, caught from seven sampling sites along the waterways.

Defence released a statement saying it had shared the results with Queensland authorities so they could issue any “precautionary advisories which are considered necessary to reduce exposure to PFAS”.

But Queensland Health claimed Defence, “as the polluter”, had primary responsibility for notifying the public about the findings.

A Defence spokeswoman said officials would letterbox drop local residents but would only hold “community engagement” after a detailed site investigation is completed in the third quarter of this year.

Oakey resident Jennifer Spencer at her bore on the Showground Rd property with a sample of the water. Landowners in the area have launched a class action against Defence over PFAS contamination. Picture: Rhian Deutrom

Further sampling of a greater range of species is expected to be completed later this year, with Defence committing to making the results public.

Queensland’s Environment Department is also investigating the removal of truckloads of sludge contaminated with PFAS from the Amberley base and allegedly dumped on private properties or mixed into commercial landscape supplies.

Landowners living near the Army Aviation Centre in Oakey, about 150km west of Brisbane, have launched a class action against Defence over PFAS contamination of the soil and water coming from the base.