Latest updates

All actions within the PFAS Management Area Plan for Robertson Barracks have now been completed. Defence will continue to monitor PFAS on and around Robertson Barracks and take further action if required.

Further information about the actions undertaken can be found in the PFAS Management Area Plan Completion Report and Next Steps Factsheet below.

Important information for communities around Robertson Barracks.

Investigations and findings

In August 2018, Defence completed detailed investigations into per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on and around Robertson Barracks.

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 in these locations can be found in soil and in water flowing through the source areas. PFAS moves in surface water flowing through drains and creeks, or groundwater that flows underground through soil and rock.

Human health risk assessment

As part of the investigations, Defence conducted a Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment. This assessment measured the PFAS exposure risks to people living, working and undertaking recreational activities within the management area and to local plant and animal life.

The investigations found that risks to people, plants and animals resulting from PFAS exposure were low. More details on Defence’s risk assessment can be found in the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment factsheet found under the Recent reports and factsheets section.

Remediation and management

Defence developed a PFAS Management Area Plan for Robertson Barracks, which set out management actions to reduce potential risks presented by PFAS.

Defence’s PFAS Management Area Plan for Robertson Barracks was informed by the outcomes of the investigations and reflects the low risk identified. The management plan recommended that monitoring of PFAS should continue. Treating or removing PFAS from the area was not a recommendation of the management plan due to the low risk profile.

Completion of remediation actions

Defence has completed the remediation actions set out in the PFAS Management Area Plan. An independent technical adviser was engaged to assess and document that management actions have been completed to the extent practicable. The technical adviser determined that the site investigations, and subsequent management actions Defence has in place including long term ongoing monitoring are appropriate. The report and factsheet are available to download under the ‘Latest updates’ heading above.

Ongoing monitoring

Monitoring of PFAS continues on and around Robertson Barracks through sampling of surface water, groundwater and sediment biannually.

Monitoring results to date have found no significant changes to how PFAS are moving in the management area.

All future updates regarding the management of PFAS on and around Robertson Barracks, including ongoing monitoring results, will be made available on this webpage.

Recent reports and factsheets

Detailed reports from the PFAS Investigation and Management Program are available to download. To discuss these reports contact pfas.enquiry@defence.gov.au.

Document archive

The document archive contains information that Defence has published since 2016, including older community presentations, investigation reports, risk assessments and factsheets. 

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

Documents Archive - Robertson (PDF, 216.58 KB)

Last review: 29 April 2026