The ACT government has not tested 14 sites which are likely to be contaminated with residue from toxic firefighting foams despite assurances a year ago that it would.
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Meanwhile, a Belconnen nature reserve that was tested last year was found to have contamination levels well below limits considered safe for humans.
But further tests may be conducted alongside remediation works for the former sewerage works at Jarramlee nature reserve which the Gininnderra Creek runs through.
The toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS, were widely used in firefighting foams from the 1970s, along with non-stick cooking utensils and fabric water proofing solutions.
The foams, which are believed to be linked to chronic diseases, were phased out from active firefighting use in the ACT in 2005.
The ACT's PFAS action plan was finalised in August. The Environment Planning and Sustainable Development directorate began compiling a PFAS inventory in September to note storage arrangements of foam, and a list of potentially contaminated equipment.
An environment management plan is in place for the "low levels" of PFAS detected at the former Charnwood fire station site, where a new childcare centre has been built.
Health authorities raised concerns in 2017 about building a childcare centre on the site. The Land Development Agency in November 2016 sold the site for $2.1 million.
Ducklings Early Education centre manager Carmen Buckley said the centre complied with the government requirements and had gone further.
"All parts of the site are sealed, with the green aspects all being constructed in raised garden beds. As it is a new construction ... there is no concern," she said.
"From the steps taken we can be assured that the site is the cleanest and safest place. That is paramount because our primary concern is caring for children."
No other sites have had remediation work completed, an ACT government spokesman said.
ACT Fire and Rescue chief officer Mark Brown this week told an annual report committee hearing at the ACT Legislative Assembly the agency had commissioned tests for nine current and former sites.
"Those were identified as the most likely sites to potentially have PFAS still there and we've been working through a tender process to identify a company to actually carry out that site testing," he said.
"The contract will be signed in the very near future and we expect the testing to take between eight to 10 weeks."
Environment Minister Mick Gentleman told the committee the ACT government was taking the lead on PFAS remediation.
"We have advice from the Chief Health Officer that says basically PFAS is yet to be determined as a health issue. But it is an environmental issue and it does stay in the environment," he said.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
