Spike in toxic chemicals

Eight new sites exposed as locals demand action

A TOXIC chemical has been found at eight more sites on the southern Gold Coast and residents are demanding a plan for the clean-up.

Airservices Australia and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection warned yesterday bore water in the area may not be safe to drink in Bilinga, particularly on Adina Ave and Golden Four Dr.

Airservices Australia found higher than expected levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFAS) at six private spear bores on Adina Ave while EHP found higher levels of the chemical in groundwater at two sites on Golden Four Dr.

The levels found are above safe drinking water guidelines but below the levels for safe recreational use.

PFAS is the same chemical which is alleged to have caused major health issues in the town of Oakey, west of Toowoomba, where residents are taking class action against the Defence Department. It is believed the chemical was introduced to the Gold Coast through firefighting foam used in training exercises at the Gold Coast Airport for decades.

Friends of Currumbin secretary Gloria Baker said she would like to see a plan for future testing and a clean-up.

“The next step is how do we stop it leaving the airport,” she said. “We also need to keep testing to ensure we know where it has gone.”

Ms Baker said it was important the community be kept inform about the progress and what the future was.

The discovery comes a week after the Gold Coast City Council prohibited swimming and fishing at the Coolangatta Creek outlet on Kirra Beach due to high levels of the same chemical.

Airservices Australia has been undertaking testing at and near the airport since they first discovered PFAS at the airport last year.

“The GHD investigation concluded the health risk associated with the use of groundwater from these 18 spear bores for recreational and irrigation use was low,” a AirServices Australia statement reads.

“AirServices has provided the residents of the 18 properties with their individual results.”

The EHP has been undertaking testing at spots in areas across the southern Gold Coast, including Golden Four Dr after residents raised concerns.