Revealed: Defence Department Knew Williamtown Contamination Risks For Decades

BY IAN CROUCH

The Defence Department could be staring down the barrel of one of the biggest compensation payouts for environmental damage in the nation's history over it's handling of the contamination issue at RAAF bases across Australia including Williamtown.

It's been revealed the department knew about the potential danger to human health from firefighting chemicals leaching into ground water at Williamtown more than 3 years before it told residents.

An ABC Four Corners investigation has found Defence knew about the potential risks since the 1980's and yet continued to use the firefighting foam containing the toxic PFAS chemicals for decades, allowing runoff to leach into ground water.

Defence Department Deputy Secretary, Steve Grzeskowiak has told the ABC, they'd approach the issue differently if they had their time again.

"Today, with the knowledge that we have, I think we'd have done things differently - I think of that there's no doubt. I think if we had our time again, should we have told the community back in the middle of 2012? - we probably should," he said.

Defence Department Deputy Secretary Steve Grzeskowiak

Macquarie University Professor Mark Taylor was appointed by the NSW government to investigate the contamination and has told the ABC the issue was very poorly handled by Defence.

"I am not the judge, but I wouldn't want to be Defence. When you look at the train of documents and the history, there have been significant delays. They knew quite a lot of information about the chemical. They knew it was a risk. They knew it was leaving the base and they delayed on taking action and indeed, the evidence shows they were resistant t actually informing the public," he said.

Professor Mark Taylor Picture:econews.com.au

Defence Innovation Hub for Williamtown means a major boost for the Hunter

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE and JESSICA ROUSE

The new Defence Innovation Hub being established at Williamtown Aerospace Centre is set to be a major boost for the Hunter's defence industry and innovation sector.

The centre comes as a part of the Federal Government's $195 billion spend on defence acquisition and is funded by the government in collaboration with the University of Newcastle's innovation network to encourage research and innovation.

Speaking at the HunterNet Defence Conference yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the region's defence industry is on the cusp of something special.

"We're announcing the NSW Government is contributing and collaborating with the Defence Innovation Hub. It really is about supporting universities and our smart industries, our research and our development that can be involved in the defence sector and that will be the air force, the navy and the army."

The Hunter has the largest regional defence presence in the state with the sector bringing in $1.3 billion a year and more than 4,000 jobs.

Scot MacDonald said the Defence Innovation hub at Williamtown will attract the expertise of academics, research and development to the region and continue to build on the strong relationship between the region and defence.

"We've always had a strong defence presence and defence industry in NSW but they haven't been talked about and known as well as in some other states. We are really getting on the front foot and making sure that place, particularly the Hunter, becomes much more prominent within the defence space and industry."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.
Image https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/1143-hunter-wins-innovation-hub-williamtown

Urgency ramps up for Williamtown residents

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Williamtown contamination saga continues to escalate, with shocking revelations over the weekend there is a possible "cancer cluster" within the red zone.

Fairfax reported over the weekend that at least 24 people have had cancer in the last 15 years who have been living on just one part of a heavily polluted street - Cabbage Tree Road.

In the wake of these unbelievable results, Hunter based One Nation Senator Brian Burston is threatening to withdraw his support in the Senate for some of the government's budget measures unless it makes a move to fund the relocation of residents who want out of the Williamtown red zone.

Senator Burston has labelled the number of cancers as "extraordinary" and "too large to be coincidental".

Image news.com.au

Residents were already desperate to get out of the Williamtown red zone and now the urgency has been ramped up.

President of the Fullerton Cove Resident Action Group Lindsay Clout can't believe what has come out to light and fears that the possibility of a "cancer cluster" may not be confined just to Cabbage Tree Road, but it could be the same for many areas across Fullerton Cove and Salt Ash.

"People need to be moved out now. We've spent two years soft-shoeing around this and we've been telling defence all the way along, the longer that they delay the moving of people out, the more information that's going to come out that's damning as a result of this contamination - and that's what's happening."

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is deeply concerned for residents and is urging the government to give residents a solution, and give it to them fast. She, as well as her fellow Labor members, have contacted the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister's office in a bid to get an urgent briefing on the Turnbull Government's "solution" whatever it may be.

"Labor has put in a request for two meetings - one with the Department of Health and the Minister for Health and the second one is with the Prime Ministers task force so we have put those in already this morning, that has happened and it's in the making."

Williamtown contamination takes disturbing turn

BY JESSICA ROUSE

In another disturbing twist in the Williamtown contamination, families outside of the 'red zone' are finding toxic levels of firefighting chemicals in their blood.

The latest victims of the contamination are unborn babies with the toxic chemicals being found in their blood while they're still in the womb.

Mark and Karen Grant were faced with this reality when their newborn tested positive in a blood test taken just moments after she was born.

The family moved out of the area almost immediately - even though they couldn't sell their property.

The young family aren't the only ones who have been affected outside of the contamination zone, Sue Walker and her husband Stephen also have high levels of toxins in their blood.

Sue has tested positive to having three times the national average and more than double the amount of her husband.

The couple are completely baffled as to how they could have so much of the chemical in their system as they live 40 metres outside of the contamination zone.

"I've attended a lot of the drop in sessions, I've written many many letters, and in those letters and at those drop in sessions i'v always questioned whether this could be airborne but no one has really addressed the issue at all," said Sue.

She says the only possible answer she can think of it that the chemicals are airborne as she spends a lot of time outside mowing and gardening, compared to her husband who is a train driver.

"What we do need is Defence to clean up this mess. I mean they speak about safe levels of exposure but there's no safe level of exposure as far as we're concerned and Defence need to start to clean it up and address the problem."

Sue and her husband say they'll keep fighting and trying to look after their health, because right now they can't do much else.

'they've indicted that whilst ever we stay here, I'm still exposed to the contaminant so ideally we should leave but that's just impossible. You cant just walk away from your home," said Sue.

Lake Macquarie Senator Slams Defence Over Williamtown Contamination

BY IAN CROUCH

 Lake Macquarie One Nation Senator Brian Burston has accused Defence of ignoring communities living on land contaminated by chemicals used on military bases.

He's spoken with Defence and government ministers about dozens of sites across Australia including Williamtown and Oakey in Queensland.

Senator Burston says he's been told nothing more can be done for residents until a report is released.

"Residents are desperate - we are going to have some major mental health issues very very soon if they don't do something about it and they're just sitting on their hands. They've known about this since 2003 - I read a report from the Defence department and they're just worried about bad publicity," he said.

Senator Brian Burston Photo courtesy Cessnock Advertiser

Williamtown Human Health Risk Assessment Due Today

BY IAN CROUCH

 The Defence Department is set to release a key report into the contamination from the Williamtown RAAF Base.

The Human Health Risk Assessment is due out today which it's hoped will give residents in the contamination red zone a better idea of what they are dealing with.

News of the risk assessment prompted an angry response from Paterson MP, Meryl Swanson last week, who expressed concern the report was being released without taking into account a review of safe drinking water guidelines due at the end of the month.

The NSW government is expected to provide a response to the assessment at a media briefing at 2.45pm today.

Among those taking part will be NSW Chief Scientist, Mary O'Kane, EPA Regional Director, Adam Gilligan, Dr Ben Scalley from NSW Health and Independent Hydrology Expert, Dr William Glamore.

Williamtown Drinking Water Review

BY IAN CROUCH

 It's been revealed the Defence Department plans to release a Human Health Risk Assessment next Monday in the wake of the contamination leak from the Williamtown RAAF Base.

However, the assessment won't include the findings of an independent review into what is an acceptable level of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water in the red zone, with a report not due until the end of the month

Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson says the handling of the contamination issue has been a shambles.


"I just can't see how you can have a human health risk assessment released on Monday when the overarching guidelines for the safety of drinking water is now going to be reviewed. Surely one is dependent upon the results of the other. The whole process has just been a shambles," she said.

Meryl Swanson