Oakey’s last chance to join contamination lawsuit

OAKEY residents considering joining a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Defence are running out of time to sign up and be included in any potential settlement over groundwater and soil chemical contamination.

Shine Lawyers yesterday met with residents to update the more than 400 who have joined the action, telling them mediation was scheduled for next month.

OAKEY residents considering joining a class action claim against the Department of Defence have until next month to sign up ahead of mediation.

About 60 residents yesterday met with Shine Lawyers in a town-hall meeting to discuss court-ordered mediation between the parties over two days from December 10.

More than 400 Oakey residents have signed up for the action filed in July last year, with a trial date slated for August next year should mediation fail to reach a settlement.

Residents are seeking compensation for what they claim is diminution in land value, and financial impact to businesses, due to chemicals leaching into groundwater supplies from the Commonwealth-owned Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

The chemicals were from the prolonged use of firefighting foams at the base.

Shine senior solicitor Lachlan Brimblecombe said the firm was hopeful settlement could be reached at next month’s mediation, but it was prepared for trial if necessary.

“The next step is mediation in December so residents were informed they had the next few weeks to sign up and join the action,” Mr Brimblecombe said of yesterday’s meeting.

The Oakey suit is one of three filed against Defence.

Shine Lawyers is acting for residents in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, impacted by the same contaminants, while Dentons is acting for residents in Williamtown in NSW.

The 20 weeks set aside for the actions, should mediation fail to reach settlement, will begin on August 12 with each of the three regions heard in Sydney.

Mr Brimblecombe said if a settlement was reached, it would go through an administration stage to determine payouts to residents engaged in the class action.

“The main point is this is the time for people to join the action if they haven’t already,” he said.

“If they don’t join now and it settles at mediation, they won’t receive any compensation.”

See shine.com.au.