HMAS Cerberus

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Important information for communities around HMAS Cerberus.

Investigations and findings

In October 2018, Defence completed detailed investigations into per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on and around HMAS Cerberus. Defence is committed to working with the Victorian Government to manage, remediate and monitor PFAS contamination in the area.

The investigations found that PFAS are mostly concentrated in areas where firefighting foams were previously disposed of, used or stored. These are called source areas. PFAS at these locations can be found in soil and in water flowing through the source areas. PFAS moves in surface water flowing through drains, creeks, or groundwater that flows underground through soil and rock.

Initial investigations identified 7 potential source areas. The fire training ground was determined as the main source area on base, with the other 6 areas considered low risk due to low PFAS concentrations in soil within these areas.

Human Health Risk Assessment

The investigations found the PFAS contamination from HMAS Cerberus has a low exposure risk to human health. More details on Defence’s risk assessment can be found in the HMAS Cerberus Detailed Site Investigation Findings factsheet under the Recent reports and factsheets section.

Additional investigations

Defence conducted a PFAS movement assessment that tracks how and where PFAS are moving from and how much PFAS are leaving the base. The assessment found that PFAS mainly moves off the base via groundwater, surface water and series of drains, which discharge into surrounding tidal creeks and ultimately Hanns Inlet.

Remediation and management

The aim of remediation is to minimise PFAS leaving the base by focusing on the remediation and management of the source areas where required. Over time, this will contribute to the reduction of PFAS in the management area. Defence has a PFAS Management Area Plan which outlines actions to manage, remediate and reduce the risk of PFAS exposure for the community living and working at HMAS Cerberus and surrounding areas.

Soil remediation

Defence focused on soil remediation works at the fire training ground. The soil at this location contained more than 8 kg of PFAS. Remediation works included the excavation and placement of the contaminated soils into an engineered containment cell.

The cell is specially designed to prevent rain water from reaching the contaminated soils. The cell holds approximately 11,000 m3 of PFAS contaminated soil and 4,500 m3 of lead impacted soil which was remediated as part of the base redevelopment. Clean soil and topsoil have been placed over the cell to a depth of more than half a metre. The remediation works were completed in 2023.

Completion of remediation actions

Defence has completed the remediation actions set out in the management plan. An Independent Technical Advisor is engaged to assess and document that remediation has been completed to the extent practicable. The report will be available to download on the Defence website in due course.

Ongoing monitoring

Regular monitoring of PFAS continues on and around HMAS Cerberus through sampling of surface water and groundwater. Monitoring helps Defence understand if PFAS contamination is changing over time.

The results are published in an Ongoing Monitoring Report and factsheet. Defence will inform the community if changes to the management approach are required.

Monitoring results to date have found no significant changes to how PFAS are moving in the management area. However, the completed remedial works are expected to reduce PFAS from leaving the base, and over time this will contribute to the reduction of PFAS in the management area.

Recent reports and factsheets

Detailed reports from the PFAS Investigation and Management Program are available to download. Appendices to these reports can be found in the document archive. To discuss these reports, contact pfas.enquiry@defence.gov.au.

Document archive

The HMAS Cerberus document archive contains information that Defence has published about the management of PFAS, including older community presentations, investigation reports, risk assessments and factsheets.

Some archive information has been superseded by the recent reports and factsheets.

Documents Archive - Cerberus (PDF, 219.5 KB)

Last review: 6 March 2025