Hundreds of Oakey residents join class action suit against Department of Defence

A CLASS action over chemical contamination of water in the Darling Downs town of Oakey will go ahead, with a litigation funder agreeing to unconditionally fund the legal claim.

Residents at a community meeting at Oakey Cultural Centre last year. Picture: Tara Croser

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A CLASS action over chemical contamination of water in the Darling Downs town of Oakey will go ahead, with a litigation funder agreeing to unconditionally fund the legal claim.

The owners of more than 350 properties and businesses have signed up to be part of the class action, to be filed by Shine Lawyers.

They will claim they have been affected by bore water contamination from the use of toxic firefighting foams containing PFOS and PFOA chemicals at an army aviation centre at Oakey.

The Australian Defence Force used the firefighting foams during training exercises at bases around Australia and they were used at Oakey, 160km west of Brisbane, between 1970 and 2005.

The claim will seek compensation for declines in property and business values, as a result of contamination.

Erin Brockovich speaks at a community meeting at Oakey Cultural Centre late last year. Picture: Tara Croser

In October, litigation funder IMF Bentham Limited agreed to conditionally fund the legal action, subject to a critical mass of residents joining the class.

IMF has confirmed it will unconditionally fund Shine Lawyers to pursue claims for compensation against the Department of Defence.

Peter Shannon of Shine Lawyers said they would file the action as soon as possible.

He said they should be in court within two years.

“It is disappointing that our extensive efforts to avoid litigation and deal with this by negotiation have been unfruitful,’’ Mr Shannon said.

Oakey property and business owners can still join the class action.

State Environment Minister Steven Miles said any PFAS contamination from airports needed to be dealt with by the Federal Government.