Environmental testing all part of responsible land management
Rotorua Regional Airport Ltd (RRA) is starting the next phase of environmental testing in the vicinity of its former fire training ground to further assess and understand the extent of any PFAS residue associated with historic firefighting foam use.
PFAS are a large family of chemicals that have been used for decades in a wide range of everyday products and industrial applications, including firefighting foams. They were not regulated or considered an environmental concern until the early 2000s.
Rotorua Airport stopped using PFAS-containing foams in the 2000s. The products were officially banned from import and sale in New Zealand in 2006.
Recent testing confirmed the presence of PFAS residues in soil around its former fire training ground. While the extent of impact appears limited to this area, further testing of soil and water is to be undertaken to determine whether any PFAS residues are present beyond this area.
Rotorua Airport is working collaboratively with Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and other stakeholders to plan and carry out the testing in a way that reflects both scientific and cultural values.
Airport Chief Executive, Nicole Brewer says the testing is an important step in understanding the environmental picture and ensuring responsible management of the site.
“This is about taking a proactive approach. We’re working closely with our iwi partners, regulators and experts to gather accurate information before determining what, if any, next steps may be required,” says Ms Brewer.
The testing will involve soil sampling on land and the temporary installation of small, passive water samplers that sit within the lakebed to collect data over a four-week period.
The work will be managed by HAIL Environmental, a certified environmental consultancy specialising in soil and water quality assessments, and will be carried out in partnership with our iwi partners to ensure cultural values and processes are reflected throughout.
The testing will not affect day-to-day airport operations, and once results are received, they will be shared with partner organisations to collectively decide the appropriate path forward.
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Contact:
Jacky James
Phone: 021 577 871
