By Professor Marcus Foth, Chair of Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance
Aircraft flying out of both Brisbane Airport and Archerfield Airport are still using leaded aviation gasoline (avgas).
Despite Australia phasing out leaded petrol for cars from 1985 and subsequently banning it in 2002 due to its toxic effects, older aircraft used in general aviation and private owners still rely on leaded avgas.
These planes are a regular presence over our suburbs, exposing communities to harmful lead emissions. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
However, the aviation sector has been exempted and the use of leaded avgas in small piston-engine aircraft continues to this day.
In the recent Senate Inquiry hearing in Canberra on September 20, 2024, it was revealed that, despite the ongoing use of leaded avgas, no government body is currently monitoring lead levels from aviation in the air anywhere in Australia.
Senator HODGINS-MAY: You don’t? Basically, I was just going to follow up on that and ask if it’s correct that none of you—the department, Airservices Australia or CASA—collect data about the use of leaded fuel.
Mr Marcelja: That’s correct; yes.
Senator HODGINS-MAY: You don’t?
Mr Marcelja: We don’t collect data. To my knowledge nobody does.
Senator HODGINS-MAY: Is it correct that leaded fuel is used by aircraft at both Brisbane and Archerfield airports?
Mr Marcelja: Low-lead fuel is used by most general aviation aircraft around the country; yes.
Senator HODGINS-MAY: Is there any explanation why no-one collects data on this?
Mr Marcelja: I guess the data would only exist in the volumes of fuel sold. The fuel providers might be able to provide volumes, but there’s no requirement for anyone at this table to collect the data, so nobody does that.
Source: Hansard transcript, page 49
This is a significant public health oversight, particularly for children who are most vulnerable to lead exposure. This revelation is especially worrying for nearby schools such as Acacia Ridge State School near Archerfield Airport and Hendra State School and Airport Drive Early Learning Centre near Brisbane Airport.
Adding to the urgency of the issue, a positive test for lead in tank water from a Brisbane property was reported during the hearing, with the source suspected to be low-flying aircraft using leaded fuel.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency introduced regulations to phase out and ban avgas by 2030 – just six years away. By contrast, Australia and Queensland continue to allow sky-clunkers to distribute toxic lead over our homes, water sources and schools.
The Senate hearing made it clear that community concerns are not being adequately addressed.
As BFPCA chair, I argue: despite thousands of complaints and now even lab test evidence of lead contamination, there has been no proactive response from local, state or federal governments.
We need rigorous air quality monitoring and an immediate ban of leaded avgas to protect the health and wellbeing of Brisbane families.
