Munmorah and Colongra Power Stations

Under the EPA’s PFAS Investigation Program, Generator Property Management Pty Ltd and Snowy Hydro Limited investigated PFAS (per-and-poly-fluroalkyl substances) contamination stemming from the historical use of fire-fighting foams at the Munmorah and Colongra sites.

Investigations found PFAS onsite and at the end of the canals at the Colongra and Munmorah power stations, however, seafood from the Tuggerah Lakes system remains safe to eat.

The detection of PFAS is not unexpected given the past use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams at the sites. PFAS has also been used in many domestic and industrial products and background levels may be present from these other sources.

Detailed investigations have revealed that groundwater is generally moving towards the centre of the Munmorah and Colongra sites, meaning that exposure to PFAS from the groundwater is limited.

Munmorah Power Station

The EPA has declared some parts of Munmorah Power Station as significantly contaminated land under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997.

The area covered by the declaration includes the areas of land at the source of the hydrocarbon and PFAS contamination on the site. Other areas of the former Munmorah Power Station will continue to be managed under the existing environment protection licence no 759.

Generator Property Management Pty Ltd will be responsible for ongoing investigation and clean-up of the contamination. The clean-up will be overseen by the EPA through our regulation of this matter under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997.

As part of the EPA’s regulation, the EPA will require Generator Property Management Pty Ltd to demonstrate how key stakeholders and the community will be kept up to date with the progress of the clean-up.

Dietary advice

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand recommends that people consume no more than 2-3 serves of seafood a week as part of a balanced diet. Further information on previous seafood sampling in the Tuggerah Lakes System to support this advice can be found in the factsheet listed below, dated July 2019.

Local fishing advice

It’s important to remember that no fishing within the power station’s canals or water systems is permitted. A pre-existing ban on net fishing in Budgewoi Creek and the seasonal night time ban on fishing in the Munmorah Power House outlet canal or Budgewoi Lake is not related to PFAS. These are long-standing closures unrelated to the declaration.

Munmorah and Colongra Power Stations