Williamtown residents and Commonwealth have in-principle settlement over PFAS class action
Persistence does pay off! Class action over PFAS contamination in Williamtown has finally reached an important milestone. Red zone residents elated welcoming news after a long fight.
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Pure elation and relief.
That’s the feelings of Port Stephens’ red zone residents who have been fighting for more than four and a half years.
Their class action over per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in Williamtown and surrounds has finally reached an important milestone, with residents and the Commonwealth agreeing to an in-principle settlement.
The details of the settlement have not been made public. But the major settlement is wonderful news for heartbroken families, who launched class action against the Department of Defence in 2016 over PFAS — once used in firefighting foam — contaminated soil and water in the area.
The contamination crisis not only affecting their livelihoods, but also property values and becoming a burden on their mental health.
Coalition Against PFAS President Lindsay Clout said it’s early days but it’s a major win.
“There are a number of steps that need to be taken over the next few days into early next week to complete the settlement process,” he said.
“We have been fighting for four and a half years for this and we always knew we were right, it has just taken a long time to prove that.
“We wanted defence to give us what they have taken away from us.
“They have taken away our livelihood, they have taken away our future and that’s our claim, how far that goes is yet to be seen.”
Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington — who has been behind the residents push for class action — said the news will allow families to get on with their lives, at long last.
“I am in awe of the strength and determination shown by this community in the face of unimaginable cruelty and obfuscation from their own government,” she said.
“These local families never gave up.
“So many good people have worked so hard for so long. I thank them for their courage and tenacity, taking on the government in the fight for their lives, and the lives of their neighbours.
While the devil will be in the detail, an administrator will be appointed in coming days to assess individual settlements.
The parties continue the process of finalising detailed terms of the settlement and will inform the Federal Court of Australia that an in-principle agreement has been reached at the first available opportunity.
“No amount of compensation is going to put that right when you look at the mental health burden people have been carrying for all these years, no amount of compensation will recover that, and it’s not going to be like a switch,” Mr Clout added.
“But we will be able to move forward, it’s going to take many years to undo that damage.”
For now though, it’s all about celebrating a day some residents thought would never come.
“Next couple of days is all about just celebrating the win with the community and the relief the community are feeling that they know feel they have a future,” Mr Clout said.
“Maybe euphoria is a bit strong but people are really happy , there’s been a steady stream of people in and out of our shop this morning and there has been a number of tears shed of relief.
“We’re enjoying that, we’re not focusing on any of the other details, we have decided just to enjoy the day. We’ve won.”
In a statement from Defence, it said the government remained committed to engaging with those impacted by PFAS contamination.
“Reaching a settlement is not the end of Defence’s engagement in these communities, however, it does represent an important milestone on what has been a difficult journey for many people over the past few years,” it stated.
“The Government remains committed to concluding the environmental investigations into PFAS contamination on and near Defence facilities across Australia, and to the ongoing monitoring and engagement with communities once investigations are complete.”
The in-principle agreement will also apply to communities in Queensland’s town of Oakey and Northern Territory’s Katherine.