Paterson MP Meryl Swanson's persistence paid off yesterday when Williamtown residents finally had the opportunity to meet with Defence Minister Marise Payne and head of the Prime Minister's contamination taskforce Senator James McGrath.
Behind closed doors on a cattle farm in Salt Ash, 20 residents told their harrowing stories face-to-face with people who could make a difference, and residents hoped it did.
It's a meeting the Paterson MP has been pushing for some time, and finally, the Defence Minister made good on her promise to come to Williamtown and meet with residents if she was re-elected.
Residents stories will be taken back to Canberra, and Meryl Swanson says it couldn't be too soon.
"You've come, you've said that you've heard us, I am supportive of what they've done today and I'll sing their praises for that but if they let us down all bets are off. We've given them faith and trust and I've played nicely politically today but, be on notice. We want action in Williamtown. it must happen."
Many residents are locked into a situation they simply can't see the end of.
"Can there be nothing worse than being a prisoner in your own home through no fault of your own. They don't want their bodies contaminated, they don't want their water contaminated and they don't want their properties contaminated"
Senator McGrath said he was touched by the harrowing stories of residents and is "deadly serious" about putting a plan in place to put an end to the contamination crisis.
"It's just so powerful when you sit and you hear it and you've actually got to look people in the eyes while they tell you we're still paying our mortgage while we rent somewhere else because we don't want our children to be exposed to this. We're retired, this is the only investment we have in our retirement," said Meryl Swanson.
