Brisbane River site of chemical spill now below acceptable levels

JUST in time for the weekend, fishers have been given the all-clear for a previously contaminated part of the Brisbane River.

Environmental officers inspect the mouth of the Brisbane River soon after the spill.

FISHERS have been told they can return to the waters around the Brisbane Airport after Qantas spilt toxic firefighting foam into the catchment in April.

Environment Minister Steven Miles said most sampled prawns, crab, mullet, flathead and whiting taken during a testing program had now returned results below “investigation trigger levels”.

Eight of the 82 samples were at or above investigation trigger levels.

Mr Miles said water quality remained within recreational water use guidelines, and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries had ruled that commercial and recreational fishers could return to fishing in the area.

“Lab results have not been received for all samples yet, and these will continue to be published online as they become available,” he said.

“Following the Government’s extensive monitoring program over the last month, Qantas is also being required to conduct its own sampling program.

“Qantas will continue to carry out testing for as long as is necessary, as a safeguard against any future bioaccumulation in the food chain over time.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said consumers should limit their consumption of seafood from the investigation area to two or three serves per week.

That advice was in line with the total dietary intake recommended by Food Standards Australia New Zealand for seafood generally, she said.

Firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (known as PFOA), was released into Boggy Creek and the Brisbane River on April 10, killing some fish.

The State Government was criticised for delaying its notification of the public in the days before Easter.