"It's Wicked What They've Done to Us": Kim-Leeanne King on the Government's Non-Response to the Williamtown Contamination

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's the town residents want to escape from, but they simply can't.

The PFAS contamination of Williamtown, or the red zone, has been plaguing the residents since the scandal was revealed in September 2015.

Kim-Leeanne King is just one of the many who lives along Cabbage Tree Road, one of the areas within the primary contaminated zones from PFAS. It's also the same road of a possible "cancer cluster" after Fairfax revealed at least 24 people who had lived on the road over the past 15 years had been diagnosed with cancer.

The cancer cluster reports were revealed earlier this year and labelled as being "too large to be coincidental" by One Nation Senator Brian Burston.

Kim-Leeanne has seen the effects of cancer firsthand after her father died of bowel cancer in 2005.

"Thyroid and colon cancer are known factors and the fact that my father was eating the vegetables that were grown here, I think that only adds to the worry that the rest of us have now, it's not if we get cancer but when we get it," said Kim-Leeanne.


The 47-year-old mother has always thought something wasn't quite right; her daughter suffers from various allergies and she herself has had a medical scare of her own this year.

The boundary of her property backs onto the heavily contaminated Lake Cochrane, adding to her suspicions about the chemical making her family, and her livestock, sick.

"I am resourceful, so I have done my own research on these chemicals and certainly what we are being told is different to what's happening overseas so we are doing everything that we possibly can. We no longer eat our own vegetables which we used to water with bore water."

Not eating anything grown on properties in Williamtown is one of the precautions laid out in guidelines published by both the Department of Defence and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the precautions though vary. Defence says it's alright to eat some things grown in certain areas, whereas the EPA urge residents not to eat anything grown anywhere within the red zone.

"Don't come in contact with surface water, don't do this, don't do that. I mean they're telling us all there are no known health effects, you're pretty safe, you're this you're that. But if they're telling us all of this why are they putting these precautions out there if they're not worried themselves?"

When it comes to taking precautions, Kim-Leeanne says they don't even let their grandson go outside and play for fear of what the chemicals in the ground may do to his health.

"He can't even go out in the yard and play. How sad is that? And this is Australia. And all the politicians are worried about in Canberra is their dual citizenship and saving their own political lives. It's a disgrace. A national disgrace."

Now Kim-Leeanne is just begging for an escape.

"That's the saddest thing. there's no way out. And then how do you replace what you've spent a lifetime building and doing... and I don't know... even just the sentimental value of things. It's wicked what they've done to us."

Cabbage Tree Road.

"We're being abandoned": Williamtown Contamination Saga Sees No End

BY JESSICA ROUSE

"We're being abandoned."

It's how residents living in the Williamtown red zone feel after the Department of Defence came to give them yet another map of the contaminated area and revised guidelines on how to deal with it.

More than 250 residents packed into the Murrook Cultural Centre last night to see an updated Human Health Risk Assessment from Defence including a new map with four colour-coded risk zones, which appears different to the one issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) just two weeks ago.

The risk assessment aimed to assess the potential human health risks of exposure to PFAS impacted soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, seafood, and others.

The four risk zones carry varying levels of contamination. Defence also issued its own set of precautionary guidelines for each of the zones. In the risk assessment, Defence advises residents to follow the precautions to "minimise their exposure to PFAS pending further information becoming available."

But it's feeling like too little too late for residents who are begging for an escape.

Lindsay Clout, the President of the Fullerton Cove Residents Action group believes the meeting last night was a joke.

"Make no mistake what happened last night was the Department of Defence walking away from the responsibility of this contamination. They spent two hours last night telling us that we, the community, now have to manage the impacts of this contamination."

"It's more of the same, which is nothing. I mean, the Department of Defence must have the biggest mirror in the country because pretty well every question that was asked of them last night their response was 'we will look into it'," said Lindsay.

Department of Defence representatives admitted no human blood tests were included in the data they collected to create their map of the contamination zone, adding to the frustration of residents.

"[Port Stephens MP] Kate Washington asked the question 'was there any blood testing results included in the construction of the map' and the answer was no. And she asked 'how is it a human health risk assessment can be presented without human health results?' And the disturbing thing is that defence didn't even understand the question," said Lindsay.

Lindsay couldn't believe the incompetence he witnessed at last night's meeting particularly when it came to Defence's list of guidelines for residents.

"But the paradox of the whole issue is, Defence keep putting out this statement that there are no known health impacts from the chemical, yet they're telling us don't eat your eggs, don't grow your vegetables in the contaminated area, don't drink the bore water, you have to be cautious with this, you have to be cautious with that,"

"And then they tell us well it shouldn't really matter because there are no known health impacts from it. It's just out of control."

EPA v. Department of Defence

In early November, the red zone was expanded to include another 250 properties in Fullerton Cove and Salt Ash.

The EPA's map and report were based on the same data as Defence's map but they instead divide the area up into three zones. In one zone, the risk is high and strict restrictions are in place and in the two other zones contamination is either confirmed or potentially present and those have less strict precautions.

"The Defence risk assessment provides people with some background to the science and the data but we recommend that people focus on the EPA map which provides them with all of the information that they need to follow the precautions and keep themselves safe on their properties," said Northern Region Director of the EPA Adam Gilligan.

Environment Protection Authority map fo the contaminated zone.

Department of Defence map of the contaminated red zone.

There are differing precautions listed between Defence and the EPA. For instance according to Defence eating home-grown fruit and vegetables is acceptable in some areas, but according to the EPA guidelines, all residents are advised not to eat anything grown on their properties.

Adam Gilligan said they understand the horrible time residents are having and want to help holding numerous drop-in sessions, and are happy to meet with residents one-on-one.

He adds now it's also time to move into an ongoing management phase at the site because the contamination isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"So we are continuing to work with Defence to get more done to stop contamination leaving the base first and foremost and also do ongoing monitoring to make sure that we continue to assess the levels of contamination in the environment."

The EPA was at two information sessions being held today in Williamtown, and will be at Salt Ash Primary School tomorrow from 3:30pm until 6pm for any residents who couldn't go along today.

The EPA's findings and advice can be found here.

The summary of the Department of Defence's risk assessment can be found here.

In the end, Lindsay said it's all infuriated him even further and he doesn't know who to believe.

"Well, in my opinion, none of it. The only person I believe has any credibility on this issue at all is Professor Mary O'Kane, NSW Chief Scientist but they don't seem to be listening to her."

 "I just despair at where we're going, we're being abandoned, and now we're being given the responsibility to deal with contamination."

Newcastle Councillor Cops Fine after Trying to Dump Asbestos

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle councillor, Allan Robinson has got off lightly after failing to register a load of asbestos waste to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The EPA fined Councillor Robinson $750 for transporting 640 kilograms of asbestos waste from a demolition site in Elermore Vale to Raymond Terrace - it's a requirement in NSW that any asbestos load weighing more than 100 kilograms is registered on the EPA's WasteLocate system.

The WasteLocate online system enables the EPA to monitor the waste's lawful disposal. It helps the environment watchdog track loads of asbestos that pose potential risks to the community and the environment.

The maximum penalty for not registering asbestos dumps with the EPA is $11,000 for an individual and up to $22,000 for a company.

Newcastle Councillor Allan Robinson Picture smh.com.au

Hunter Water cops a hefty fine

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter Water has copped a $15,000 fine after they were found to have leaks and poor maintenance at their Dungog Water Treatment Plant.

The Dungog plant treats water from the Chichester Dam.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued the fine after a site inspection in May when officers uncovered several pipes suffering from contamination build up and corrosion. They say some leaks if left unchecked, could potentially flow into the stormwater system.

It's the second time Hunter Water has been found to have poor maintenance practices - the EPA also fined them last year when heavily chlorinated water leaked into a local creek because of a faulty pump at the Dungog site. Hunter Water did plead guilty to the charges.

It was determined that poor maintenance practices had led to that particular incident. In the end, the fines and court costs imposed on the company for the offences totalled more than a quarter of a million dollars.

EPA Director Karen Marler says it was disappointing to see inadequacies in maintenance practices this year, given the previous prosecution taken by the EPA.

Image nbnnews.com.au

Hunter River Pollution Fear After Hexham Truck Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

A truck roll over on the Hexham Bridge yesterday sparked a major clean-up operation.

The truck, which was towing a trailer packed with building waste, crashed into a guard rail with the trailer toppling onto it's side just before 4.00pm.

The 53-year-old driver was trapped for a short time before being freed and taken to hospital in a stable condition with non life-threatening injuries.

However the incident prompted a major response from the Environment Protection Authority as building waste and diesel fuel fell from the bridge deck into the Hunter River below. 

Firefighters placed booms around the debris and diesel spill to contain it.

The road and river clean-up took around 6 hours to complete.

Crews work to clear debris from the Hexham Bridge Photo: theherald.com.au

Air Quality In Newcastle Best In Four Years

BY IAN CROUCH

 Newcastle has recorded its best air quality for winter in four years according to the latest air quality results.

The Winter Air Quality report captured data between June 1 and August 31 this year, shows there were no days recorded where pollution levels didn't spike over the national limits.

Wet weather over winter has helped to damp down dust particles.

However, Environment Protection Authority Acting Director for the Hunter, Karen Marler says the air quality is expected to get worse as we head into summer.

"Air quality in Newcastle is generally very very good, but as we move into Summer of course we get warmer and dryer conditions, so we can see increases in particle levels in the air," she said.

EPA Acting Hunter Director Karen Marler

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.

Wood Smoke Impacts Health of Hunter Residents

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Source: The Timaru Herald

The Shire Councils of Singleton and Muswellbrook have received funding of $82,000 from the NSW Environment Protection Authority to undertake a joint wood smoke reduction campaign.

The campaign seeks to familiarise residents with the range of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases that can result from inhalation of wood smoke particles, as wood smoke is the largest contributor to air pollution in the winter months.

Mark Ihlein from the Singletown Council says rebates are to be made available for residents to remove old wood heaters in favour of installing less smoky forms of heating.

"The campaign involves encouraging residents with wood heaters to go outside and check their chimneys, and make sure that they aren't smoking too much, and if they are, to apply for the rebate for the chimney cleaning."