Kilburn Groundwater Prohibition Area

The EPA proposes to establish a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) in parts of Kilburn (please refer to the map).

Groundwater is water that is present underground within rocks or sediments and can be accessed by a bore with an outdoor pump. Most properties do not have access to groundwater.

The need to establish a GPA follows the completion of a site contamination audit, undertaken on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) in relation to the former Islington Railyards site. The audit report concluded that groundwater is contaminated with hexavalent chromium and trichloroethene (TCE) related to historical workshop activities. Based on the information reviewed, the EPA will take action necessary to prevent actual or potential harm to human health or safety.

The EPA proposes to gazette the groundwater prohibition on 22 May 2025. Once established, the taking of groundwater in the area to a depth of 30 metres below ground will be prohibited. After this date a maximum fine of $8,000 may be issued to persons using bore water at their property.

We invite you to provide feedback about this proposal by 2 May 2025, and we encourage groundwater users in the area to contact us for further information.

Email – engage.epa@sa.gov.au
Phone – (08) 8429 7554

The EPA’s priority is to protect public health and safety through the establishment of a GPA. We will proceed to gazette the Kilburn GPA on 22 May 2025 if no new information relevant to the proposed boundary is received.

See DIT's fact sheet for information about the former Islington Railyards site, site contamination audit, and continued monitoring at the site. For more information, please contact DIT:

Web – dit.sa.gov.au/islington_railyards
Email – dit.engagement@sa.gov.au
Phone – 1300 794 880

The EPA proposes to establish a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) in parts of Kilburn (please refer to the map).

Groundwater is water that is present underground within rocks or sediments and can be accessed by a bore with an outdoor pump. Most properties do not have access to groundwater.

The need to establish a GPA follows the completion of a site contamination audit, undertaken on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) in relation to the former Islington Railyards site. The audit report concluded that groundwater is contaminated with hexavalent chromium and trichloroethene (TCE) related to historical workshop activities. Based on the information reviewed, the EPA will take action necessary to prevent actual or potential harm to human health or safety.

The EPA proposes to gazette the groundwater prohibition on 22 May 2025. Once established, the taking of groundwater in the area to a depth of 30 metres below ground will be prohibited. After this date a maximum fine of $8,000 may be issued to persons using bore water at their property.

We invite you to provide feedback about this proposal by 2 May 2025, and we encourage groundwater users in the area to contact us for further information.

Email – engage.epa@sa.gov.au
Phone – (08) 8429 7554

The EPA’s priority is to protect public health and safety through the establishment of a GPA. We will proceed to gazette the Kilburn GPA on 22 May 2025 if no new information relevant to the proposed boundary is received.

See DIT's fact sheet for information about the former Islington Railyards site, site contamination audit, and continued monitoring at the site. For more information, please contact DIT:

Web – dit.sa.gov.au/islington_railyards
Email – dit.engagement@sa.gov.au
Phone – 1300 794 880

  • How will this be communicated to future purchasers?

    After establishment, future purchasers of properties within this area will be made aware of the groundwater prohibition via the Form 1 statement provided to prospective buyers at the time of sale.

    This informs future purchasers that existing groundwater bores are no longer able to be used and no future bores can be installed at the property.

    The Form 1 statement is required to be provided by a vendor (the seller of the property), usually through the real estate agent or conveyancer to a prospective buyer, under Section 7 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994.

    As a report outlining the need for this prohibition has been prepared, a YES response will also be generated for question 4(c) of the Particulars relating to environment protection in the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Regulations 2010.

    This informs future purchasers of the land that a copy of the GPA determination report is available to them from the EPA Public Register.

    This is in addition to any other EPA interests that have previously been flagged for the title, should they exist.

  • What is the risk to residents?

    For site contamination to become an issue, there needs to be a source (contaminated groundwater), a pathway (extracting that water from a bore), and a receptor (a person coming into contact with that water).

    Using contaminated groundwater for drinking, showering, washing, filling swimming pools, watering lawns or irrigating produce over a long period of time is considered a health risk in the proposed GPA.

    Prohibiting groundwater use removes the exposure pathway and protects public health. It prevents the spread of the contamination by preventing the use of existing bores, and also prevents the installation of new bores into the Quaternary aquifers in the future.

  • Are my fruit and vegetables safe?

    Rainwater and mains water (tap water provided by SA Water) are not affected by the groundwater contamination and can be used.

    Home-grown fruit and vegetables are safe to consume if you are not watering them with groundwater.


Page last updated: 18 Mar 2025, 03:57 PM