THE HON RICHARD MARLES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

GAI BRODTMANN MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
 
MERYL SWANSON MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PATERSON

PENNY SHARPE MLC
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
 
KATE WASHINGTON MP
STATE MEMBER FOR PORT STEPHENS
 
STATE AND FEDERAL LABOR COMMIT $20 MILLION TO BEGIN PFAS REMEDIATION
 

State and Federal Labor Governments would invest a combined $20 million to remediate PFAS contaminated drains around RAAF Base Williamtown following four years of inaction from state and federal Liberal Governments.
 
PFAS in the soil and sediment of the drainage systems surrounding properties in Williamtown, Salt Ash and Fullerton Cove continues to leach into neighbouring properties. This is a primary source of frustration and concern for the community.
 
While Defence is working on reducing and eliminating the flow of PFAS off the Base, contamination will not diminish until the drains themselves cease being a source of PFAS.
 
Both state and federal Liberal Governments are unwilling and unable to commit to or commence any clean up in the area. The unimplemented Drainage Management Plan from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage would leave contaminated material on private properties after being removed from drains.
 
Labor’s $20 million Drain Management Plan will include the removal of contaminated soil from drains, some of which are up to four metres wide, and storage or disposal of the contaminated material off-site.
 
The state and federal Liberal governments have continually ignored PFAS contamination and the residents it affects.
 
A Shorten Labor Government and a Daley Labor Government would contribute $10 million each for the project to be carried out by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
 
Labor’s national PFAS policy will be announced before the next federal election.
 
THURSDAY, 14 MARCH 2019