Former Warrnambool fire station site sold for millions

The sale was hotly contested, with interest from around the country and three potential buyers took the starting bid of $1.5 million to the final price of $2.41 million.

The auction was won by an out of town buyer who bid over the phone.

They wished to remain anonymous.

Auctioneer Jason Thwaites said it was a good outcome for the city.

"It's one of the last corner sites available in the city and it attracted interest from across the country with several people travelling to be here today," he said.

"It was a successful result.

"Nothing like this has been sold in the last 10 years."

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The auction kicked off to a fiery start, with Mr Thwaites threatening to call the police after a prospective bidder raised questions about PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination at the site.

Both the CFA and EPA said contamination levels were so low there was no concern to human health.

PFAS has been used for many decades in household products such as non-stick cookware, stain protection and food packaging as well as industrial and commercial applications, such as firefighting foams, mist suppressants and coatings.

It is of increasing concern worldwide because it is widely used, stays in the environment for a long time, moves easily through animals, water and land and can build up in animals and people.

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The site is next to Warrnambool Primary School.

A CFA spokeswoman said environmental testing was undertaken at the fire station prior to the sale, which was "part of CFA's normal practice for disposing of surplus properties, particularly given the historical use of this site."

"The precautionary testing indicated that potential contaminants in the soil were less than the adopted human health guidelines with no concern for health identified," she said.

"This information has been supplied to prospective buyers with the Section 32, a letter from CFA and a summary of the environmental results."

The precautionary testing found that while all other potential contaminants in the soil were less than the adopted human health guidelines, PFAS concentrations in the soil were greater than the guidelines for low-density residential use (with garden and accessible soil) but less than guidelines for medium and high-density residential use and commercial and industrial use.

Levels were detected in the groundwater at the site, however, the CFA said there was no recorded use of this groundwater by adjoining properties that would cause a concern for human health.

There is an Environmental Audit Overlay on the site which places obligations on any party seeking to utilise the land for any purpose that could be significantly or adversely impacted by any potential contamination.

An Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) spokesman said the EPA was not aware of any significant PFAS contamination at the site.

"The EPA works with CFA to understand contamination assessment and management at all current and former sites and uses regulatory tools where needed to formalise any requirements," he said.

"EPA is not aware of any significant contamination at the former Warrnambool CFA site and there are no current notices on the site.

"It is CFA's responsibility to assess and manage any contamination at all of its sites and follow proper processes in the sale of any land."

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