As a precautionary measure, signage has today been erected by Department of Health Environmental Health Officers along the Rapid Creek and Ludmilla Creek to caution against swimming, eating fish, shellfish and molluscs. This action has been taken pending further wet season test results on aquatic food and water, as part of the final Human Health Risk Assessment being undertaken by Coffey on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence, becoming available and indicating the status of compliance with national health based guidance values for Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The Northern Territory PFAS Interagency Steering Committee (PFASIASC) and PFAS Interagency Working Group met earlier this week to consider among other matters, the Australian Department of Defence (Defence) Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) for RAAF Base Darwin that was released on 7 February 2018.

The report suggested there was evidence that PFAS has migrated from RAAF Base Darwin into surrounding waterways, therefore a detailed Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) is currently being undertaken by Coffey for the Australian Department of Defence.

This precautionary advice will be reviewed by the Department of Health once the report on the RAAF Base Darwin Human Health Risk Assessment has been finalised by the Australian Department of Defence. This report is expected to be completed by April 2018 and will include results from further 2018 wet season environmental sampling.

The Department of Health had previously contracted Charles Darwin University and University of Queensland to test aquatic life from these creeks in 2016 and 2017. The results indicated that the food was safe to eat at normal consumption patterns and previous signage was removed.

Media Contact: Dimitra Grehl 8999 2741 or 0491 228 375