Call for more PFAS support

HERBERT MP Cathy O’Toole is demanding Townsville residents concerned about potentially toxic firefighting foam used at Defence bases get access to free blood tests and health support.

The Federal Government announced earlier this month it would offer Katherine residents a $ 5.7 million community support package for people affected by contamination from per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS).

The package includes voluntary blood testing, a health study and mental health and counselling services.

Similar support has already been offered to affected communities near RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales and the Army Aviation Centre in Oakey.

But no commitment been made for Townsville.

“Why do other parts of the has country have access to this help but not Townsville? It’s not fair,” Ms O’Toole said.

“There needs to be a nationally consistent approach to all the Defence sites that have been affected.

“The availability of blood tests gives people relief and makes them feel like they’re in charge of getting access to information and it could help ease the frustration and anxiety while we await results from the investigations.”

Environmental investigations are ongoing at both RAAF Base Townsville and Lavarack Barracks to assess the historical use and nature and extent of PFAS contamination. Defence held community sessions in Townsville on November 29 and 30 to provide updates on both investigations.

Over the two days, 24 community members attended.

“Questions from the community focused on the current activities of the investigations, progress of other investigations into PFAS being conducted by Defence and PFAS impacts on drinking water and food,” a Defence spokeswom- an said. To assist with the investigations, Defence is requesting community support to complete voluntary surveys to better understand how the community interacts with the environment and determine if additional sampling is needed for the investigations.

To date, 146 people have completed the RAAF Base Townsville Water Use Survey and 59 people have completed the Lavarack Barracks Water Use Survey.

As part of the Townsville investigation, a Recreational Fishing Survey will also be conducted to further inform PFAS environmental investigation and assessment. It will collect information about fishing habits of residents in the Townsville area, specifically what they catch and eat.

Defence expects to open the Recreational Fishing Survey in February 2018. To date, there have been four registrations for the fishing survey.

To access your relevant water survey visit defence. gov. au/ environment/ pfas/ townsville or defence. gov. au/ environment/ pfas/ Lavarack.