Oakey water contamination: Malcolm Turnbull considering land buybacks poisoned towns

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has weighed in on Oakey’s water-contamination scandal, but his possible plan has received a mixed response — welcomed by some, others say it’s ‘too little, too late’.

Oakey residents protest a lack of action on contamination of their water. The PM says he’s “seriously considering” land buy-backs. Picture: Mark Cranitch

MALCOLM Turnbull has weighed in on the defence water-contamination scandal, saying he is “seriously considering” land buy-backs in towns poisoned by toxic firefighting foam contamination, including Oakey.

Mr Turnbull said the Government would consider property acquisition in towns contaminated withperfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) once their health and environment investigations were complete.

OAKEY: Residents told land ‘worthless’

“What we need is to get a full understanding of the extent of the contamination and the risk to public health, so we can assess the impact,” the Prime Minister said.

It comes as residents living inside Oakey’s contamination plume struggle to secure bank loans, sell their properties or run their farming businesses on what valuers have deemed “worthless land”.

Cattle, horses, sheep, grass and lucerne have also tested positive for PFOS and PFOA, leaving primary producers and homeowners with no way to escape their nightmare.

Mr Turnbull’s pledge to consider land buy-backs came after he announced a $55 million assistance package to fund a blood-testing program and mental health and counselling services for residents.

Adair Donaldson’s family property is partially contaminated, and he commended Mr Turnbull for taking the town’s crisis seriously.

Adair Donaldson, with son Eric, says Oakey residents should also be entitled to compensation. Picture: Mark Cranitch

“Now the Government has to go a step further to say those who can show they have suffered demonstrable losses should be entitled to compensation,” Mr Donaldson said.

“They could put an end to this situation quickly by getting people to the negotiating table and putting in place a ­system of compensation before it gets to litigation.

“People’s livelihoods have been affected by no fault of their own, and those people are entitled to be compensated for their financial loss. It would put so many people’s minds at ease and allow our community to start healing.”

David Jefferis and Dianne Priddle at Berwick Stud. Picture: Claudia Baxter

The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service will today hold an information session in Oakey to speak with residents about mental health support services available.

Oakey stud breeder David Jefferis said Mr Turnbull’s comments had given the struggling town new hope but the news was too little, too late.

“Successive governments have sat back over nine years and watched this plume travel under the town, through our waterways, into people’s livestock and into their homes,” Mr Jefferis said.

Opposition defence spokesman Stephen Conroy will visit Oakey on Friday to speak with residents and has called on ­Defence Minister Marise Payne to follow suit.