Upper Hunter Farmers Feeling the Pinch with No Rain In Sight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's dry.

Very dry in the Upper Hunter.

It's getting closer to winter as each week goes by and without barely a drop of rain for some time farmers are racing the clock to grow feed to last through the colder months.

Dairy farmers Brian and Debbie Parker live on a property just outside Denman and they're beginning to feel the pinch from a significant lack of rain.

They've been working the farm for 20 years now and currently have 200 head of Jersey and Illawarra cattle. The last time they suffered a really bad drought was in 2006-2007 and they fear it could get really bad again.

"It's very dry. We have not had any decent rain since Cyclone Debbie. We got a couple of inches then and that was March last year."

"We're having to search further afield all of the time to source hay, we'll be down in Victoria soon! We really want to get some decent rain before Autumn ends, that would be the end of May, that's when the feed just doesn't grow because its coming into winter so we've got to get rain before winter," said Brian Parker.

"As soon as we can grow it [feed] we are feeding it off. There is no surplus feed at all. Actually last week I had to buy in my first load of hay - there goes $12,000 for a b-double from Cowra."

That load of hay could be just the beginning, if no substantial rain comes Brian and his wife Debbie could be shelling out thousands of dollars every month for one b-double load, at least. That will add to an ever increasing power bill and pumping water through irrigation systems more and more.

Scone. Image www.scone.com.au

Some farmers in the Upper Hunter are questioning just how much the State Government are helping them.

In 2015, the government took drought declarations away replacing them with the NSW Drought Strategy. The drought declarations did trigger the release of some subsidies when it was in place including transport subsidies which is something farmers are really missing.

It's understood that now instead of being declared in a drought and assistance being triggered that way, farmers have to get in touch with Local Land Services for help, and if they don't then they won't know about it.

"As far as I knew we needed to be [drought declared], we've had no support tell us that we can actually access those things so I didn't even know anything about it to tell you the truth. And I'm totally unaware of any of that... I'm very unfamiliar with this new system," said Brian Parker.

"Back under the old system we got freight subsidies and that did really help, I don't even know if that is still available," and Brian said he has never had any contact from Local Land Services or the government at any level to tell him there are options available to him or even where to go to look for them.

"We're too busy looking after everything on the farm, and we just need some advice, even an email in laymens terms - something."

"I'm not one to ask for too much help, but just to be aware of what's out there, and if there is something that I see applicable I'd certainly look into it but I don't see anything that's out there."

Image nbnnews.com.au

In the end though, it goes beyond cattle and hay.

"You just can't control the weather I mean we're in an industry, farming, so we go with the weather and it's tough times now, very tough times, but all you've got to do is look after your mental health too," which Brian Parker says from experience, having had trouble a couple of years ago.

"It's the constant work and the stress of it all really and that's what takes its toll on you. And you just wonder when its going to rain next, you keep looking towards the sky."

It's decided, the new Maitland Hospital will be Public

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's decided.

The new Maitland Hospital will be run as a fully public hospital. The State Government was considering a public-private partnership or involvement from the not-for-profit sector, both ideas which have now been scrapped.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the plans last night saying after much consideration and weighing up all of the concerns this was the best option.

"After much consideration, we have decided on a public health-led approach from the brand new Maitland Hospital at Metford,"

"I want to reassure the people of Maitland and surrounding areas that they are getting a world-class hospital, and the NSW Liberal Government is focused on making that happen as soon as possible," said Minister Hazzard.

It's been a roller coaster of a decision, in July last year it was announced that a public-private partnership had been scrapped, and the government were looking down a not-for-profit path instead.

The $450 million hospital's construction is already underway, with ground work and the turning of the sod happening before Christmas.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison is over the moon, saying she's happier than when she was when she won the election in 2015.

Artists Impression new Maitland Hospital.

EARLIER:

PPP scrapped for not-for-profit model for the new Maitland Hospital
Maitland Hospital To Be Debated in Parliament Today
Spat Overshadows Significant Step in Construction of new Maitland Hospital

Bushfire Relief Funding for Thousands of Affected Hunter Residents

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Thousands of people affected by bushfires in the Hunter will now be able to apply for disaster relief funding.

The State Government has announced disaster assistance is now available to Hunter residents affected by the Chichester Dam and Main Creek Road fires in Dungog, and the Mount Helen fire in the Upper Hunter.

The assistance for eligible residents, local councils and producers includes:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
- concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
- freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said thousands of homes and properties were damaged and so the funding will go a long way.

"It will assist both councils and private landowners to be able to recover things like fencing, you might need feed and stock, things like that and those sorts of assistance measures are very very important to help people recover,"

"Affected landowners and councils when they apply will be able to see exactly what their damage requirements and improvements are and they'll be able to see when they apply when they will be eligible for. The best thing to do is have a look at the website," said Michael Johnsen.

To see if you're eligible and for more information head to the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website: www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Image MJF Productions.

Maitland MP slamming Return and Earn Scheme for Failing Small Business

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Maitland MP is fuming that there is no collection point in the electorate for the NSW Government's Return and Earn scheme.

The Hotel Tudor in Woodberry has now stopped operating as an over-the-counter collection point, it comes after the Tenambit Takeaway also stopped operating leaving no collection points at all in the Maitland area.

Jenny Aitchison said both businesses have pulled out of the scheme because of the lack of support they've received from the state government and the botched scheme.

"They've got a scheme which delivers a very small return tot he operators so a huge in cost on their core and primary businesses, it's not viable and in this case, they're just not even providing them with the appropriate support that they need," she said.

Jenny Aitchison is calling on the Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to immediately intervene and ensure that a reverse vending machine is installed in Maitland.

"Because the process is so flawed the way the government has botched this implementation of the container deposit scheme is just appalling and we're just left wondering here in Maitland, when is the government going to get its act together."

"The return to the operators is fairly small so they obviously want to get a lot of containers but then even getting those containers taken away, I know that was a factor in at least one, or probably that's been a factor in both of these," said Jenny Aitchison.

However, a NSW Environment Protection Authority spokesperson has told 2NURFM News a reverse vending machine will, in fact, be installed in Maitland in February.

The spokesperson also said every effort is made to ensure the containers are taken away.

Statement:

"The network operator, TOMRA Cleanway, is deploying teams daily across NSW to review potential Return and Earn sites, including the Hunter region.

·         TOMRA Cleanaway is also ensuring bins are provided at each reverse vending machine and TOMRA staff will be attending and cleaning sites every day.

·         There has been widespread community support for Return and Earn, with around 50 million containers redeemed since its commencement. RVMs in Cessnock and Medowie have also proved popular."

RTBU Members Vote to Proceed With Strike

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

UPDATE 2:15pm:

In an overwhelming decision, members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have voted to proceed with industrial action on Monday.

Just 5.93% of union members wanted to suspend the strike.

They'll stop work for 24 hours on January 29, leaving Hunter and Sydney commuters without any passenger train services.

While 2900 services are usually in operation across the Sydney CBD on weekdays, tomorrow they'll only run 1600 as rail workers refuse to work overtime hours.

For Hunter commuters, it means they'll have access to rail services operating on a Saturday frequency from Thursday through to Monday when the total stoppage occurs.

Meanwhile, the state government has lodged proceedings with Fair Work Australia in a bid to prevent Monday's strike, and a private Sydney law firm is suing the Union for economic loss as their employees will struggle to get to work.

A screen grab depicts tomorrow's timetable disruptions on the Newcastle to Central line. Head to Transport Info NSW for all the latest updates. 

EARLIER:

NSW rail workers are expected to decide today whether or not they'll continue with planned industrial action.

Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members will decide by lunchtime if the offer from Sydney and NSW Trains management is good enough to cancel a ban on overtime tomorrow, but at this stage a 24 hour strike planned for next Monday is definitely going ahead.

It's understood if the industrial action does happen, the Hunter line will be working to a Saturday timetable tomorrow and possibly every day until a deal is struck, and there will be no passenger trains next Monday, January 29.

With workers not doing overtime the network could be plunged into chaos; the RTBU says the railway can't run without workers working overtime because rescources have been run down so significantly.

The offer being put forward to all 6,000 union members is a 2.75 per cent pay increase each year for three years; it also includes travel entitlements and a $1,000 cash payment if the offer is accepted.

Apart from the money side of the offer, a range of items were also put on the table to deal with working conditions, roster conditions and redeployment options in the event of a privitisation of the network.

"Obviously we've been trying to get people to listen to us and our concerns for six months, so it was great to have that breakthrough yesterday in relation to that [working conditions]," said RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens.

He added that it's never been about the money for him, it's been about the working conditions. But in the end, for the members, it does come down to money.

Workers received a text message overnight asking for a YES or NO response on the offer and planned industrial action.

Alex Claassens said it's important the workers get this opportunity to look over the offer and decide for themselves whether it is good enough, and whether it warrants putting the planned industrial action on hold.

"It's disappointing that we're in this position. The Transport minister has unfortunately let it get to this. Finally, we've got an offer that we can put to members to look at, but it's got to be noted that the Minister has been dragged kicking and screaming to this point," said Alex Claassens.

"He didn't want to be a part of it and now he has to deal with the reluctance and unfortunately we've been crying for help for a long time and nobody was listening. We've had to carry this railway on overtime.

"We all like a little bit of overtime, but eventually you get so tired that you cannot function properly and we work in a safe railway and we need to make sure we don't have tired people out there on our railway because that's when accidents happen," said Alex Claassens.

Newcastle City Council Sends in their Liquor Licence Review Submission: Venues with Exemplary Behaviour could be Exempt

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle City Councillors have endorsed a submission to the state government's review of local liquor licenses.

Their submission could see venues with a record of exemplary behaviour exempt from some licensing conditions.

Among the 17 recommendations is the support of a consistent 1:30am lockout and 3:30am shutdown for all premises, expect those designated as low impact.

A low impact venue has been labelled as those with strong, consistent focuses on noise management and responsible service of alcohol as well as a proven track record on alcohol-related and liquor licensing incidents.

Other recommendations included:
- requiring licensed venues to prepare more robust plans of management and to be more closely scrutinised by Liquor and Gaming NSW.
- requiring licensed venues to retain an employee whose sole function is to supervise responsible service of alcohol throughout the premises,
- undertaking new research into how licensing conditions under the current lock-laws affect specific venues and liquor licence categories.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city's night-time economy is now worth $1.4 billion a year and employs more than 12,000 people.

"We need laws that reflect the evolution of that night-time economy, which has been led by strong growth in smaller night-time venues attracting a more sophisticated, responsible crowd."

Free Flu Jabs for Hunter Kids

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Children in the Hunter are now eligible for free flu jabs.

Children aged between six months and five years old are eligible under the NSW Government's $3.5 million influenza vaccination program.

It comes after a severe flu season last year which saw the state record it's worst flu season on record. In August last year, approximately 3,300 cases of flu had been recorded. Across the state the number of cases reached more than 12,000.

The vaccine will cover four strains of influenza virus, two A strains and two B strains, likely to be circulating this winter. If your child has never had a flu vaccination before they will need two doses, one month apart.

"We all know how horrendous the flu can be and this is especially hard on the smallest members of our family," said Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

"Little kids are also most likely to spread the flu so a free flu jab will not only keep them safe, but will protect others they come into contact with."

NSW childhood vaccination rates have increased by 6.3 per cent since 2010, to 93.9 per cent in 2017.

Image kids.britannica.com

Unions and Sydney Trains in Deadlock over Pay Negotiations

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Last night's meeting between unions and Sydney Trains bosses ended in deadlock after 10 hours of negotiating.

They're meeting again this afternoon in a bid to resolve the deadlock ahead of planned 24 hour strike action next Monday, and workers planning not to work overtime on Thursday across the state and here in the Hunter.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) rejected an offer put on the table last night which is understood to have been a 3 per cent pay rise and travel entitlements.

"Our members are angry, they're fed up, they're sick of getting the blame for all the stuff that's been going on and we just want a fair deal and we're not getting it," said RTBU State Secretary Alex Classens after the meeting last night.

RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Classens Image news.com.au

The RTBU is asking for a six per cent pay rise and improved conditions, but the government isn't moving far away from their 2.5 per cent cut off.

Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins told reporters after the meeting last night, "I'm hoping that some overnight thinking and some common sense will prevail tomorrow morning that we may hear back from them to say that we want to look after our customers first."

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance copped some flack this morning for not being at last night's meeting, but he said he met with the union on Friday and the right people are in the meetings brokering a deal.

"Because they're working through the specific details and we've got a good agreement on the table and we're going to go from there. I met with the union leaders on Friday, it's appropriate for the management and the bosses to work through the specifics of the deal," said Andrew Constance on Nine this morning. 

Newcastle Councillors pay rise or no pay rise?

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Councillors will tonight debate on whether or not to give themselves a pay rise.

They will decide on a 16 per cent pay rise.

Independent Councillors Kath Elliott, John Church, Allan Robinson and Andrea Rufo put forward a rescission motion saying a 16 per cent pay rise for Councillors and a 24 per cent increase in the Lord Mayor's allowance is "inappropriate" when "council is continuing to burden ratepayers with a consecutive 8% Special Rate Variation increases, supposedly to address its financial challenges".

Before last year's council elections, council voted against a pay rise, even though the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal allowed councils to take a 16 per cent increase if they wanted it.

"It's perplexing as to why it was bought to us again at the end of the year. I don't know what changed. But certainly there was no pay rise going to be granted in June and then we had this turnaround from Labor and voted for it after the election so one has to be a little skeptical about why that was," said Kath Elliott.

She also said, "I don't think it's appropriate for us to be given such a large pay rise when there are people paying high rates, people in the community who can't get a large pay rise. It's out of step with community expectations so I'm hoping Labor votes against it too."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes. Image dailytelegraph.com.au

Low Income Families Squeezed out of the System: Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Federal Government is changing the requirements for families to be eligible for funding assistance, and Hunter MP's aren't happy.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said close to 1200 families will be losing out in his electorate with cuts to childcare assistance.

Under the government's new package families will have to satisfy a complex set of rules to qualify for government assistance including a work test and a means test. Joel Fitzgibbon says the works test will require families to satisfy minimum levels of 'approved activities' each fortnight.

He says it's outrageous.

"These new activity test rules are so complex and difficult that many low income families where one person, indeed sometimes two people working casually will be squeezed out of the system. Money funding and big tax cuts for the big end of town means low income families lose their child care."

He adds families in the lowest income bracket who earn less than $65,000 will be hit the worst by the changes, and its all on top of the 18 per cent growth in fees since the Liberal Government was elected.

"We want people in the workforce and to have them in the workforce we need flexible childcare arrangements. These new activity tests will squeeze many low income families out of the system, indeed 1200 alone in my electorate and many more across the Hunter region,"

"Well the government is out to save money to fund its multi-billion dollar tax cuts for the big end of town, and who pays? Low income families in the Hunter region," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon. Image theaustralia.com.au

Shark Detection for Blacksmiths

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Summer just got a little safer for beachgoers at Blacksmiths with a funding boost for shark protection.

Lake Macquarie Council were successful in their bid to the state government for funding for drone equipment and training for staff on a 14 week trial.

$33, 290 will be put towards the trial as a part of the NSW Government's Shark Observation Grants Program.

Brad Sutton, the Lifestyle Services Manager at coucil said they'll be able to use the footage if they need to, but generally the same protocols if they spot a shark will apply.

Image surf-forecast.com

"We will be able to share that through media releases as well as maybe on our website any aerial photographs that we have of the sharks. But I guess the important thing is and the take home message is that we will act on that information immediately and close the beach as appropriate."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald said, "Improved survelliance on beaches provide a clearer line of vision for surf lifesavers to spot sharks and are also useful for spotting people in distress."

Brad Sutton said the trial will give them a better idea of how operating a drone fits in with lifesavers day-to-day work.

"The drone technology has been proven to be effective is sighting sharks from the air, part of what we will be looking at is how compatible is driving a drone for a lifeguard given their other safety obligations."

In the end though, anything that will keep surfers, swimmers, rock fishers and beachgoers safe at the beach can only be a good thing.

"For every person that is fatally attacked by a shark, 100 people drown on our beaches so our focus is still highly on water safety and promoting those safety messages. This year has been a significantly busy start to the year, in the first two weeks we've had 172 rescues," said Brad Sutton.

Return and Earn Proving Popular in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Mount Hutton Return and Earn Collection Point in the Hunter is proving to be among one of the most popular in the state.

The State Government has revealed their Container Deposit Scheme has so far seen 18 million containers collected across the state - 27, 813 of those from Mount Hutton alone.

It's a pleasing result for the government after the scheme copped it's fair share of criticism across the region for a lack of machines across the region.

Collection points in the Hunter to get 10 cents for your eligible container include the Woolworths at Singleton, Cessnock, Medowie, Salamander Bay, Mayfield, Mount Hutton and Jesmond. There are also over-the-counter collection points at McDougalls Hill, North Rothbury, Tenambit, Woodberry and Red Head.

Image 2GB Sydney.

EARLIER:

Hunter MP's want Return and Earn fast-tracked.

Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine first in the Hunter

 

Job Growth in Newcastle without the Mining Boom

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the Hunter's job growth isn't thanks to a mining boom, but rather her government's infrastructure spend in the region.

The State Government's $650 million investment in the city for infastructure has doubled the number of jobs throughout the region.

The latest stats from the Hunter Research Foundation Centre mirror the numbers showing the Hunter had an annual growth of 7.4 per cent when it comes to full time jobs in the region.

Gladys Berejiklian says in the past 2 1/2 years alone 37,000 jobs have been created.

"We are for the first time having a boom in Newcastle and the Hunter without a mining boom. This is the first time Newcastle has been able to stand on its own without going through a mining boom. I'm so proud of that,"

"This is the first time in Newcastle's history where Newcastle hasn't had to depend on the mining boo to get ahead."

Premier Gladys Berejiklian in Newcastle yesterday. Image David Threlfo Twitter.

 "We've seen at least $2 billion in private investment coming off the back of the government's contribution and that's resulting in a whole range of construction jobs, engineering, tradies, it's hard to find people to work for us up here because there's so much going on which a good challenge to have," said Premier Berejiklian.

The Premier also said the big infrastructure spend has triggered big events in the region such as the inaugural Newcastle 500 Supercars event in November and big sporting games which is all only going to increase as the city moves into the future.

"We're really thrilled that that's what holds the future of Newcastle. It's a multiplicity of jobs, multiple sectors growing and that's what we want to see. I don't want to see people have to jump on a train every morning and travel long distances because they want to get the job of their dreams,"

"I want people to get the jobs of their dreams in Newcastle, and that's the future we're building," said Premier Berejiklian.

EARLIER:

It's all About Building for the Future: Premier Berejiklian Thrilled with Newcastle Interchange

Funding Boost for Knights Centre of Excellence

BY TYNAN SALAMONE. 

The Newcastle Knights are expected to have a $20 million Centre of Excellence in Broadmeadow by November 2019. 

The Knights were one of five NRL clubs to be provided funds from the NSW Government, receiving $10 million, the most of any club. 

As a condition of the ownership deal struck between the Wests Leagues Club and the NRL in July, Wests will match the grant dollar-for-dollar. 

Wests and Knights chief executive Phil Gardner believes the development of the centre is vital to the future of sport in Newcastle. 

"I don't think we can overstate how important it is to the region. It is a huge commitment from the Wests Group and a legacy for the town. We don't think there is a better place for us to invest money.

"We'll have one home finally. It'll be a home for the Knights, a home for the community and a home for other sports as well," he said. 

Construction is expected to start in the middle of next year. 

It's all About Building for the Future: Premier Berejiklian Thrilled with Newcastle Interchange

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she's absolutely thrilled with the Newcastle Interchange and the progress the light rail project is making.

The Premier is in Newcastle today to present the political outlook for the Hunter at the Property Council's final lunch of the year, and while she was here she also inspected the progress on the $650 million-plus investment the government has made in Revitalising Newcastle.

Since the Revitalising Newcastle program started, the city's population has grown by 4.6 per cent and employment has increased as well, up 9 per cent.

Private investment has jumped too, with the project triggering $2 billion.

Revitalising Newcastle's Michael Cassell, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot
MacDonald, and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Premier Berejiklian said despite all of the hassles along the way, she's thrilled the government stuck to their guns and delivered.

"I remember people were complaining to me about why are you building the light rail and now people are saying we want an increased network, we want you to further increase the network so I remember at the time getting absolute criticism for announcing the light rail project,"

"I'm glad we stuck to our guns. It's going to be fantastic for Newcastle , but also the broader region. This is all about building for the future."

"I've learnt one thing about Newcastle, there is a minority of people that don't want to see things change because they've got vested interests, the vast majority of people want to see Newcastle move ahead and that's who we're batting for, those people who are invested in the future, invested in giving kids a go here in Newcastle and making sure Newcastle has the opportunity to become an even greater city - it is a great place already to live and work."

The Premier defended the cost of the light rail project after reports today suggested it was double the cost of similar projects across the state.

"There's no point taking down all of the wires from the heavy rail if you weren't going to do this, and I've heard some unfair criticism about the light rail project costing a bit more than other projects, that's because other projects have wire at the top of them like Canberra. We've chosen to make this wireless because we're preparing this for the future," said Premier Berejiklian.   

Image David Threlfo Twitter.

School Playgrounds Open for the Summer Holidays.

BY DANIELLE RIES

Schools in the Hunter region will participate in a new trial program which sees their playgrounds, ovals and sports courts be open to the public during the summer holidays.

More than 40 schools across NSW will also take part as it encourages people to use the facilities to exercise and have a fun time during the holidays.

Schools participating from the HUNTER include:

• Kurri Kurri Public School
• Maitland Public School
• Redhead Public School
• Lambton Public School
• Muswellbrook Public School
• Wangi Wangi Public School
• Belmont High School
• Hunter School of Performing Arts

The participating schools will receive a bonus grant of $15,000 to help upgrade and improve their facilities for the communities, and the schools, use. 

These schools will be open between the hours of 8am and 6pm from the 23rd December and will finish late January when school goes back for 2018.

Maitland Primary School Playground
Credit- The Land.

More Police on the Ground in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Maitland Police are expected to be getting a welcome boost to their ranks.

An offer from senior management for ten new officers is expected to be endorsed today.

It comes after the local area command took industrial action in November with frustration over police numbers reached a boiling point.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said it's a good start, but more officers are needed.

"We're very happy that it's looking like we will get our ten new police in Maitland. We were looking for 20 but I'll give credit where credit is due and I'm pleased the government has recognised this and we're just hoping we'll get an announcement on the other ten shortly,"

"Maitland grows by 4 to 5 people every single day, we're the fastest growing community outside of Sydney. Our police numbers have not risen with our population. There's an opportunity in the re-engineering to address some of that, that they add those extra numbers in. That's a really important shift for us," said Jenny Aitchison.

Jenny Aitchison said originally the proposal was some of Maitland's senior officers would be moved onto other roles, and their positions would be filled by junior officers on the ground.

Nevertheless, she's just happy that at least for now there are more boots on the ground.

Maitland Police Station Image triplem.com.au

"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.

Swanson Moves Motion with Greens for Answers on Red Zone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Federal Government now has a deadline.

They have until February 6, 2018, to explain what consideration they are giving to the people and business of Williamtown when it comes to their financial situations.

Labor, the Greens and some minor parties have joined forces to put forward a Senate motion condemning the Department of Defence's response to the PFAS contamination saga in the Williamtown red zone, and also calling on the Turnbull government to explain what consideration it has given to addressing any financial impacts on affected businesses and individuals.

The motion was a culmination of work by Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson who has been going in to bat for Williamtown in Canberra since the saga began.

"That's what this motion is about, it's about putting pressure on the government to say you keep telling us that you have a solution, you keep telling us that you have options for the people of Williamtown. That was six months ago, where are these options, we need to know what is going on," said Meryl Swanson.

A solution is yet to be found for the people suffering in the red zone, and Meryl Swanson believes the issue is bigger than politics, it's about people's lives.

"I just really want a scheme that's fair and that is straight forward and that helps people and gives them options. The actuary people, the policy people will be able to develop the details of whatever these things are going to be, but I just want something that's going to look after the people of Williamtown who have already been through enough."

"What they need to do is give a meaningful explanation of what is going on moving forward so when Senator James Magrath, head of the PFAS Taskforce stands up and says we have a plan, we need to know what that plan is," said Meryl Swanson.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson in Williamtown in May 2017.

Williamtown PFAS Contamination Drop-In Sessions

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Residents living in and around the Williamtown contaimination red zone have the opportunity to go along to information sessions tonight and tomorrow to hear from the Department of Defence.

The information sessions will focus on the findings of the 2017 Environmental Site Assessment and the 2017 Off-Site Human Health Risk Assessment.

The latest report found the maitenance zone, or red zone, now extends to include another 250 properties.

The details for the events are:

Community information presentation: Tuesday 5 December 2017
                                                              at the Murrook Cultural Centre, 2163 Nelson Bay Road,
                                                              Williamtown, 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Community walk-in sessions: Wednesday 6 December 2017
                                                  at the Murrook Cultural Centre, 2163 Nelson Bay Road,
                                                 Williamtown,
                                                 Morning session: 9:00am - 12:00pm
                                                 Afternoon session: 2:00pm - 6:00pm

At the walk-in sessions local residents and businesses will be able to ask questions, one-on-one with Defence and other government department agencies on the report findings.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the information sessions will be quite saddening for many of the residents.

"It's going to be tough news for residents because I think it is going to really be speaking to the potential poor health outcomes that flowed from this contamination. Whilst it won't specifically be about health, it will be about how the contaminants travels to humans."

There are more sessionss planned in the near future, but Kate Washington fears they may not deliver what the community wants.

"We're hearing from defence today that the community meetings coming up are about the conclusion of their assessment of the human health. Now for me that's a little bit concerning. It suggest that there may not be any future testing done, it suggests that this might be the end of the road for Defence's purposes in terms of determinin goutcomes for humans."