Healthy Land & Water remains concerned about ongoing repercussions to the health of the Brisbane River and marine habitats following last week’s fire foam spill from a Qantas hanger at Brisbane Airport.

The toxic chemicals entered waters within the adjacent Brisbane Airport. 

The foam incident

On Tuesday, April 11 at around 9 pm, a firefighting foam incident occurred at a Qantas facility at the Brisbane Airport, resulting in toxic chemicals entering waters within and adjacent to the airport. Officers from the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection attended the site soon afterwards and identified several dead fish within the airport boundary and foaming surface water.

Once advised of the incident, Healthy Land & Water liaised with the Queensland Government to help determine the boundaries of the contamination, and where hazardous materials were likely to travel given water movements.

We understand that the various government agencies now have the matter in hand, that the spill has been contained, and that testing is continuing to determine the extent of contamination and any human health ramifications.

Healthy Land & Water is an independent not-for-profit organisation working to improve the sustainable use of land and waterways in South East Queensland.