Childcare centre off the RAAF Base and out to Medowie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Department of Defence are moving a childcare centre earmarked for the Williamtown RAAF Base out to Medowie instead.

It comes after international research indicated there is a potential risk that noise exposure may affect children's rate of learning compared to a quiet environment. In addition, the health risks to hearing is a major concern.

The research is what led to the closure of RAAF Base childcare centres back in 2015 at Amberley and Darwin.

The decision to not have one back at Williamtown is particularly pleasing to Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.

"It also happened to be outside of the red zone which I think is a wise and cautionary decision. You know, we don't know about PFAS, it is an emerging contaminant and I do think that they've done a good thing in making the decision to move the childcare centre,"

"They took the decision to move the childcare bases at Williamtown, Amberly and Darwin because of fast jets and the noise. That decision was taken a number of years ago before PFAS became an issue and I was briefed recently, last week, that a new childcare centre was being built at Medowie," said Meryl Swanson.

The childcare centre at Medowie is still little ways away - it isn't expected to be built until next year. Defence has committed to the centre which they say will be completed between January and August 2018.

Meryl Swanson says with a majority of RAAF families already living in Medowie, it just makes sense.

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.

68 new jobs for Williamtown RAAF Base

BY JARROD MELMETH

BAE Systems Australia has created 68 new jobs as the Company starts providing operational maintenance to the Royal Australian Air Force's Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter fleet.

The Hawk 127 is a tandem, two-seat jet, used to prepare the RAAF's fast jet aircrew for the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18 Super Hornet and, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The company is directly supporting the training of Australia's next combat aircrew, delivering all Hawk maintenance support on the flight line at the RAAF Base.

Under the new arrangement, BAE Systems is responsible for aircraft launch and recovery, rectifications, life support, stores and mission equipment, on-site management and deployed operations.

Operational maintenance was previously provided by the RAAF's 76 and 79 Squadrons. Transitions to the new arrangement started in October 2015 to ensure seamless change.

A Hawk 127 conducts an aerial display at Williamtown RAAF Base.
Photo courtesy of defence.gov.au

McCormack has got Williamtown at the "top of the Priorities"

New Assistant Defence minister, Michael McCormack has given hope to Williamtown residents, as he aims to make the contamination at Williamtown RAAF base a top priority.

It comes as Defence minister, Marise Payne refuses to respond to the Senate inquiry into the base, which found conditions to be a crisis to the local community.

Minister Payne has also refused to announce when the Federal Government will respond to the report.

"Having face-to-face engagements with people who are living the reality of this contamination is vital" says Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, who welcomed the announcement from minister McCromack.

McCormack first entered Parliament in 2010, representing the seat of Riverina, NSW

 It's been months since the initial announcement of contamination, which has seen local businesses hampered by loss of business, while fishing organisations have had little to no income since late last year.

Claydon has also advised minister McCormack to see the effects first hand, and not in Canberra.

"Have some discussion with the community group leadership ... to really find out what is the most appropriate means of communicating with as many residents and effected business as possible."

"It's not good enough to just lob up in Newcastle with a clear plan."

"He needs to hit the ground running."

McCormack was sworn in as Assistant Defence minister earlier today, along with a slew of Nationals MPs, including Barnaby Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister, and Alan Tudge, who replaced Stuart Robert as Human Services minister.

Image courtesy of Alex Ellinghausen, via the Sydney Morning Herald (LINK).