UPDATE: Three Injured as Truck and Motorhome Crash on Nelson Bay Road

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A 90-year-old man has been airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition following this morning's truck and motorhome crash.

The man, who was driving the motorhome, had to be freed from the vehicle and is being flown to hospital suffering head and limb injuries.

An elderly female passenger travelling in the motorhome has been taken to the John Hunter via road ambulance.

The male truck driver was also transported to hospital by road.

EARLIER:

A man has been taken to hospital and two other patients are being assessed following a serious crash on Nelson Bay Rd at Bob's Farm.

Paramedics were called to the scene near Marsh Road just after 9 o'clock Monday morning, following reports a truck had collided with a motorhome.

The male truck driver was transported to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition suffering back pain.

Two other patients, believed to be an elderly man and woman travelling in the motorhome, are being assessed at the scene after paramedics worked to free the male driver from the vehicle.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter has been called to the scene.

Williamtown PFAS Chemical Footprint Expanded

BY IAN CROUCH

More homes have been caught up in the Williamtown contamination crisis.

An expert panel appointed to assess the human health risk has expanded the so-called red zone following the release of new data showing the potential toxic plume is larger than first thought.

A further 250 families in Fullerton Cove and Salt Ash now face restrictions on what they can eat and drink on their properties.

Environment Protection Authority Chair, Barry Buffier has this health advice for affected residents.

"Don't use any other form of water apart from reticulated water. It's that ingestion - that accidental ingestion which is the key message," he said.

NSW EPA Chairman Barry Buffier, NSW Chief Scientist Mary O'Kane and Parliamentary Secretary for The Hunter Scot MacDonald Announce The Revised Contamination Footprint Picture theherald.com.au

Two People Injured In Early Morning Smash At Salt Ash

BY IAN CROUCH

Traffic on Nelson Bay Road was thrown into chaos by a serious crash this morning.

Two cars collided near March Road just after 5.30am

A 24-year-old man driving one of the cars was was trapped for a short time before being freed.

He was flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter with possible hip fractures.

The 39-year-old female driver in the second car was taken by road ambulance to the John Hunter  with abdominal injuries.

Both drivers are reported to be in a stable condition.

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 meeting behind closed doors

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Behind closed doors yesterday Defence Minister Marise Payne met with Williamtown residents alongside head of the Prime Minister's Perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) taskforce Senator James McGrath.

They heard stories from 20 residents on a cattle farm in Salt Ash, who are caught up in the Williamtown contamination scandal in one way or another.

Marise Payne promised their message would be taken back to Canberra, and Senator McGrath declared the government was in fact "deadly serious" about finding a solution for Williamtown and its residents.

"If I was to make my observation about the most compelling take out of today's meeting it is that people who are part of this community, who love this community, some who've lived here for a very long time want to be empowered to make decisions about what they do in relation to their own futures and their own properties amongst their own community for their children and for themselves. That is the message we will take back today," said Marise Payne.

Residents have had many meetings since the contamination scandal broke in September 2015 and have often had their hopes dashed that something would be done.

Yesterday's meeting was filled with mixed emotions with one resident accusing the government of criminal negligence.

"There are various options and solutions that we are looking into. It would be wrong for me to start going through the different options available that the government is currently looking into," said Senator McGrath.

When asked why it would be wrong to say what the government is looking into, Senator McGrath replied, "because we are looking into the different options that are available and what the government is looking at in terms of the Williamtown local community. It's something that I'm working on at the moment. It would be wrong of me to give a date".

Each resident had their story to tell and Lindsay Cout from the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group said there are people who have left their properties and are now renting outside of the 'red zone', using their savings so they can cover their mortgages but they are drained out and running out of time.

"I am indifferent as to what impact it had, but we had the best environment for it and they heard some really harrowing stories  and the question was put to them 'How many more babies have to be born with high levels in their blood before somebody takes some action?' It's beyond talking now," said Lindsay Clout.

Marise Payne said the contaminants were once used broadly and internationally in firefighting foams, in scotch guard to protect lounge suits or on raincoats and in non-stick frying pan surfaces that are used every single day, so there was no conception whatsoever of their persistent nature.

"We still have questions in relation to their ultimate impact in health terms and in environmental terms."

"Well, I fully expected today there would be some hope given to those people that there would be some mention that yes we are considering that process but I didn't hear that... Defence needs to stand up and say it is time to get these people out of this contaminated area," said Lindsay Clout.