Subdivision in Oakey faces special meeting of Toowoomba Regional Council over PFAS contamination

The Toowoomba Regional Council has voted to approve a straightforward subdivision in Oakey, after it was found to be within the PFAS management zone.

A planned subdivision on Donely St in Oakey, which was approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council at a special meeting.

The presence of PFAS contamination in the ground has forced a straightforward subdivision of a residential block outside Toowoomba to go to a special council meeting.

Councillors voted at Wednesday’s session to approve a proposal to split a 2000 sqm block of land, improved only by an abandoned horse stable and a disused bore, between Donely and Davidson Streets in Oakey.

Normally an accepted development under the TRC’s planning scheme, the application by Terry and Kathryn King was brought before the councillors because the land is within the Army Aviation Centre Oakey’s PFAS management zone.

According to council planner Shokhida Safarova said investigations were made into the PFAS level of the soil on the surface, finding it to be at an acceptable amount.

“The report states that the limited and preliminary field investigation undertaken found that PFAS contaminants in the soil were below applicable human health and ecological screening criteria; and that the site is unlikely to present an unacceptable risk to sensitive receptors with implementation of the recommendations,” her report said.

A peer review of the investigation also found the PFAS levels to be of low risk, but recommended the onsite bore be decommissioned prior to any works on the site.

Planning and development general manager Stewart Somers said the council would draft a cover letter so that future buyers knew about the PFAS situation.

To development was approved unanimously.