PFAS Contamination Rocks Ourimbah Creek Catchment
An investigation has revealed significant Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination in the Ourimbah Creek catchment on the New South Wales Central Coast. This area previously contributed to the region's drinking water supply until approximately 18 months ago.
PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" due to their natural persistence and ability to bioaccumulate in organisms.
Contamination Discovery and Alarmingly High Levels
Water scientist Dr. Ian Wright's investigation was prompted by the discovery of a dead platypus with high PFAS levels in Ourimbah Creek. Subsequent testing in the Ourimbah wetland, located near the M1 Motorway, has shown extremely high PFAS concentrations.
One water sample from the wetland exceeded ecological guidelines for PFOS by over 1,000 times, and another by more than 800 times. Sediment samples in the wetland were found to be several hundred times more concentrated than the water, indicating a long-term contamination source.
Further water testing in the upper reaches of the catchment has consistently detected elevated PFAS levels above national drinking water guidelines since November 2024, with one sample exceeding the limit by nearly 60 times. Some measurements also surpassed recreational water requirements.
Identified Contamination Sources
Two primary sources are suspected for the widespread PFAS contamination:
2000 Tanker CrashScientists theorize that a petrol tanker crash on December 8, 2000, near the M1 Motorway at Ourimbah, is a major contributor. Approximately 1,000 litres of PFAS-containing firefighting foam (Alcohol-Type Concentrate) were used to extinguish the resulting fire. This foam is believed to have drained into the wetlands and Ourimbah Creek floodplain.
Mangrove Mountain LandfillLocated 15-20 kilometres from the wetland, this dormant landfill has been a source of community concern. Monthly PFAS monitoring by the Central Coast Council shows ongoing detections in nearby waterways exceeding national drinking water and ecological guidelines since November 2024. The highest result, recorded in July 2025, showed PFHxS at more than 58 times the drinking water guideline.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) also detected PFAS levels indicative of contamination from the landfill and issued prevention notices to its operator, Verde Terra Pty Ltd. Verde Terra stated that updated monitoring equipment has shown significantly lower concentrations and found no evidence of PFAS affecting neighbouring properties.
Health Concerns and Community Impact
PFAS chemicals have been linked to various health effects, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological and developmental issues, according to a federal parliamentary inquiry referencing international studies. The Australian drinking water guidelines for key PFAS chemicals (PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA) are higher than comparable international standards, even after recent updates.
Residents along Ourimbah Creek, many of whom rely on the creek for water for livestock, crops, and occasionally drinking, have expressed concern. Local resident Pam O'Sullivan voiced alarm over potential contamination risks to her valuable horses.
Official Response and Calls for Action
The Central Coast Council disconnected the Ourimbah catchment from the town's drinking water supply in August 2024, citing a "pump failure" and subsequently continued PFAS testing. The Council issued a media release in January 2025 regarding PFAS detection but did not directly notify affected landholders, a decision criticized by community members as a "dereliction of duty." The Council states that data is publicly available and later samples were not as elevated.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, chair of a NSW parliamentary inquiry, has urged the government to provide more information and conduct testing of bore water supplies and fish in the catchment, emphasizing that it should not be solely up to independent scientists and community members to identify such issues.