SA RAAF base part of $132m contamination payout
Residents near the Edinburgh RAAF base north of Adelaide whose properties were contaminated by toxic PFAS firefighting foam are in line for a share of a $132 million Commonwealth class action in-principle settlement announced by the Federal Court today.
Photo: AAP/Kelly Barnes
Members of the class action will be issued further details about the settlement as it approaches approval.
The Commonwealth did not adequately prevent toxic chemicals in the foam from escaping and contaminating soil and groundwater, the suit alleged.
It has not admitted liability in the terms of the settlement.
News of the agreement was emailed to the court at about 12.10am on Monday.
The so-called “forever chemicals”, which accumulate in the body and do not naturally degrade, are linked to cancers, birth defects and diseases.
Monday’s agreement covers sites near RAAF bases at Edinburgh, Richmond and Wagga Wagga in NSW, Bullsbrook in Western Australia, Darwin, Townsville and Wodonga in Victoria.
The Department of Defence previously agreed to pay landholders in Katherine (NT), Oakey (Queensland) and Williamtown (NSW) in a 2020 settlement worth $212.5 million.
Shine Lawyers joint head of class actions Craig Allsopp said in a statement the agreement would save the cost of a risky trial.
“The settlement money, if approved, will go some way to compensate the seven communities in this class action for their losses, however, many are still stuck on contaminated land,” he said.
-with AAP
