NSW Environment Minister Meets With PFAS Affected Residents At Williamtown.

BY IAN CROUCH

The Defence Department will hold the first of several public meetings today to update residents on the investigation into the Williamtown RAAF Base contamination saga.

It comes more than two years after news of the scandal broke.

The state government last month supported a motion from Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington to pressure the Prime Minister to find solutions for residents living in the red zone.

NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton met with six residents behind closed doors yesterday to hear how the state government can further assist them, with particular emphasis on connection to town water.

"It was a good meeting, a practically helpful meeting and I will welcome further meetings with the residents groups into the future," she said.

NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton

However, Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington believes the meeting should've been open to the public.

"At long last she is meeting with some community members in Newcastle, but I know that the community would have preferred a public meeting," she said.

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington

Gabrielle Upton has defended the decision not to hold a public meeting saying she was concerned to hear genuinely from the residents out of the the glare of publicity.