Government Agrees To Settle Class Action Claims Over PFAS Contamination At Williamtown

BY IAN CROUCH

It's the beginning of the end of a five year battle by residents living near the Williamtown RAAF base to address the health and environmental impacts from chemicals which leeched into groundwater from firefighting foam used for many years at the defence facility.

Late on Wednesday night an in-principal agreement was reached and a confidential settlement was being finalised for three Federal Court class actions involving residents from Williamtown in NSW, Oakey in Queensland and Katherine in the Northern Territory. It comes after their properties were rendered worthless and unproductive by the contamination.

The breakthrough followed two days of intense negotiations during mediation talks between legal counsel for the residents and the Defence Department.

The talks were being viewed as the last opportunity to reach a settlement before the class actions were to be heard in the Federal Court in April and follows previous unsuccessful attempts where the parties could not reach agreement.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Defence Personnel Minister Darren Chester released a joint statement on Wednesday night say the Government remains committed to engaging with those impacted by PFAS contamination.

"Reaching a settlement is not the end of Defence's engagement in these communities, however, it does represent an important milestone on what has been a difficult journey for many people over the past few years." they said.

Paterson Mp Meryl Swanson has also welcomed the breakthrough, congratulating the community after their hard-fought battle for compensation.

"I just felt so proud of my community and what they've been through. They've been to hell and back - they've been so courageous, they've been smart, and this agreement last night is the first step in what has been a terrible journey for them." she said.

One of many signs erected by frustrated residents impacted by the PFAS contamination 

Pasminco Redevelopment

BY ALICE PEART

Following new legislation the state government has taken over the former Pasminco site at Boolaroo, with plans to fast-track it's redevelopment.

After accusations of mismanagement regarding the massive toxic waste containment cell on site, the government compulsorily acquired the land under the new legislation.

The site is now earmarked for residential and commercial development, which will reportedly result in two billion dollars net economic benefit for the Hunter.

Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser says the economic opportunity for the region is exciting,

"This is part of our north-west catalyst area which is really important to Lake Macquarie, so this will have the potential to support thousands of homes, thousands of jobs, and will be the catalyst to reinvent that whole area up there".

While the site itself has been cleaned to bedrock for development purposes, residents throughout Lake Macquarie still face soil contamination from the former Smelter site and are liable themselves to pay for remediation, costing up to $100,000.

Jim Sullivan from the Boolaroo Action Group says the development will be a great asset to the whole city, but the government needs to use the sale to address ongoing contamination.

"If the government thinks that they're just going to sell all the land on the Pasminco site, and not repair people's properties that surround the smelter, they're going to have a fight on their hands".

New Council Funding For PFAS Contamination

BY HOLLIE HUGHES and SANZIANA TIMIS

Hunter Council's with land contaminated by PFAS are encouraged to apply for grants and support allocated by the Regional Capacity Building Program.

The program is providing $1.4 Million in funding and ten officers from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) shared between council's with land contaminated by PFAS.

The funding and support aims to assist in securing community welfare through the development of contaminated land policies and workshops for council staff to better identify and manage contaminated sites.

Parlimentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says, "the program will provide added expertise to help council's manage contamination and safeguard community wellbeing."

Additionally, through this program the EPA will work closely with local council's to manage the handover of responsibilites for Underground Petroleum Storage Systems.

Scot MacDonald says the program will provide,"expertise to manage a very complex process of contaminated land."

Applications for the Building Program grants are now open to regional organisations of councils or groups of three or more regional councils.

The New South Wales EPA is offerring all eligible applicants up to ten hours of assistance to develop their application.

Council's can apply for the Regional Capacity Building Program through the EPA website with applications closing July 17th.

Image sourced: http://www.enviropacific.com.au/enviropacific-waste-services-manage-nsw-epa-levy-increase/

The deadline's up: PFAS report from federal government due today

BY: ALEX MURRAY

The deadline for the Turnbull government's report in the wake of the Williamtown contamination crisis has arrived.

Residents affected by toxic pollution are rife with health, financial and living problems and are calling for compensation and effective solutions from their representatives.

With a delayed response from authorities and a freeze on bank lending in the area, the community are in devastation particularly for businesses and an uncertain future for families.

The federal government will be under scrutiny for their actions in the wake of the red-zone crisis and the 18 year gap since officials were warned of the dangerous chemicals.

Much of the government's spending has fallen onto the base but subsequently had limited plans for the affected residents.

The critical report being released today will detail a solution to these severe long-term problems for human safety and the money owed to the community.

Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson says:

"This has been an issue for decades, we know what the problem is and now we want a solution."

"People are very concerned about their health implications and particularly their immediate mental health when they worry about their environment and of course the investigations into all sorts of clusters of cancer occurring around the base."

"Essentially we need to know what's in that plan and what consideration has been given for the people of Williamtown and what we intend to do for them."

"People have been rendered financially hopeless because they're not able to sell their properties because the banks won't lend to potential buyers, they've essentially been landlocked."

"Our local people feel well and truly deserted by our own government."

Meryl Swanson MP - Credit: Newcastle Herald 

Port Stephens Labor Announces Rate Relief Commitment for Red Zone Residents

BY SARAH JAMES

The Port Stephens Labor Council have committed to providing rate relief to residents affected by contamination from the Williamtown RAAF Base, if elected.

Of the estimated 630 homes in the 'red zone', the owners have had to pay full Council rates for the past two years despite learning their land is contaminated.

Labor West Ward candidate Giacomo Arnott said "after two years of inaction, the affected residents deserve the support of their Council, and we will ensure that Council is providing this support".

At this stage it is unknown exactly how much the Council rates will be cut, but Fullerton Cove resident Lindsay Clout believes it should be by 100%.

"Defence have told us they have a forecast that this contamination will be in the water until at least 2036, so we don't think we should be paying rates while we're contaminated," he said.