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.

More Facilities Needed At Tomaree Hospital

BY IAN CROUCH

The long-awaited addition of X-Ray facilities at Tomaree Hospital at Nelson bay has been described as a good start, but more facilities are needed.

The state government has taken advantage of a booming economy to fund the infrastructure, which will be supplied and operated by a private provider from February next year.

However, the government says it will be a public facility operated in the same way as any other public hospital

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington says it's a welcome announcement, but more needs to be done to meet the needs of the growing population.

"There's more that we want - we want to ensure that we've got ultrasound, rehabilitation services, a helipad - all sorts of things to properly meet the needs of the community up here," she said.