Westleigh Rural Fire Station
What is the situation at Westleigh Fire Training Centre?
PFAS investigations have commenced at the Westleigh Fire Training Centre, 12 Warrigal Drive, Westleigh, NSW 2120.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) is monitoring the progress of NSW RFS (RFS) PFAS investigations at the Westleigh Fire Training Centre.
Why is PFAS being investigated?
Foam containing PFAS was used in firefighting activities, such as fuel type fires and training, by some Rural Fire Brigades since 1975 for the protection of people and property.
The RFS identified PFAS-containing firefighting foam might have been stored or used as part of fire training and operations at this location. As a precaution, the RFS is undertaking investigations to determine if PFAS from firefighting foam might still be present in the environment.
The presence of PFAS in the environment may not necessarily pose a risk to human health or the environment. There is currently no consistent evidence that exposure to PFOS and PFOA causes adverse human health effects (refer to NSW Health Site). It is important to assess if there are any potential ways in which people might have contact with these chemicals. The primary PFAS exposure pathways are through drinking water containing PFAS or eating produce that was grown using water containing PFAS. Local residents are connected to the town water supply.
What testing is being undertaken?
Several PFAS site assessments including human health risk assessment and monitoring programs have been undertaken at the site between 2017 and 2024 by independent environmental consultants on behalf of the RFS, including concrete, soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater sampling on and off-site.
Ongoing surface water and groundwater monitoring events have been undertaken onsite since September 2019 to assess groundwater concentrations over time.
What were the findings?
Sampling has confirmed the presence of PFAS in concrete, soil, surface water and groundwater at the site.
Targeted remediation, two PFAS hot spots, were completed in 2017.
What happens now?
RFS and the NSW EPA have reviewed reports associated with the site to determine the next steps. A Remediation Action Plan has been prepared to address investigation data gaps and outline a suitable remediation and/or management strategy to make the site suitable for current and future proposed land uses.
RFS are undertaking ongoing surface water and groundwater monitoring events to assess temporal trends in PFAS concentrations in groundwater and surface water at the site.
Reports
- Rural Fire Service Training Site Investigation, February 2017.
- Further PFAS Investigation Stage 1 Desktop Review, May 2017.
- Preliminary Human Health Risk Assessment, April 2018.
- Detailed Site Investigation, April 2018.
- Excavation Report, September 2018.
- Tank Water and Groundwater Monitoring Event March 2019, April 2019.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2020, November 2020.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2021, April 2022.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2022, October 2023.
- PFAS Remediation Action Plan, July 2024.
More information
- Read more about the NSW EPA state-wide PFAS program including Frequently Asked Questions
- Questions about the NSW EPA’s state-wide PFAS investigation program can be directed to the NSW Environment Line on 131 555.
- The most relevant and up to date health information can be obtained from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Environmental Health Standing Committee, which has the following fact sheets:
- The Australian Government has a dedicated PFAS website that contains a range of information pertaining to PFAS, this includes ‘what are PFAS’, ‘How might PFAS affect us’ and ‘FAQs’, along with other important information.
- The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care Expert Health Panel has provided advice on the health impacts of PFAS.
- You can make enquiries to Australian Government health information service by phone on 1800 941 180 or by email to health.PFAS@health.gov.au.
- The NSW Government has established the NSW PFAS Technical Advisory Group who advise the EPA in developing the NSW Government’s response to PFAS issues, including contamination, to protect the community and the environment.
- You can read more about current RFS PFAS investigations by monitoring this site.
Our commitment to you
We will work to keep you up to date on investigations.
Email pfas@rfs.nsw.gov.au for more information.
Updated as of 28 May 2025
